Robert “Bob” Leard, a well-known PEI stick curler and curling delivery-stick manufacturer, has passed away.
Bob Leard
Bob was featured in this 2016 CBC story:
Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-stick-curling-2016-1.3852097
Excerpt:
“We are doing pretty good for the little old Island, we do damn good,” said stick curler Bob Leard from Montague. “It’s great exercise for us older guys who like to curl.”
The stick allows the curler to deliver the rock from a standing position, but it doesn’t make the game any easier, said Leard.
“To stick curl is just as hard as to regular curl, because as … you have to think all the way through the game. It’s a two-man team and that’s it. I feel that it’s more of a challenge,” he said.
‘I got two artificial hips … but I can still curl’
Leard has been playing the game for about two decades. He turns turns 85 Wednesday and doesn’t plan to quit the sport any time soon.
Although he’s had some health issues, the sport allows him to stay active.
“Well I got two artificial hips, so I can’t get out of the hack, can’t sweep, but I can still curl.”
Leard also developed Bob’s stick while living in Alberta and brought them to P.E.I.
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Obituary and funeral notice:
Frederick Robert Leard (Bob) passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at the Dr. John M. Gillis Memorial Lodge. Born in Montague, PEI, on November 16, 1931, he was the son of the late Frederick and Belle (Shaw) Leard. Bob was the devoted husband to Isabel (Birt) Leard for 65 years and is survived by her and their five loving children: Wally (Kathy), Lorna Murphy (Shawn), Jimmy (Helen), John (Darlene), and Ann Jackson (David); 11 cherished grandchildren: Chelsey, Ryan, Melissa, Kate, Andrew, Jamie, Victoria, Olivia, Emma, Piper, and Sam; and 3 great-grandchildren: Archer, Miller, and Porter. As well as his sisters Linda Watt (Willard) and Sally Ross; nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Bob worked in steel building construction in both PEI and Edmonton, AB. He and Isabel raised their family in Pisquid and Montague and later moved to Edmonton where they lived and worked for 25 years. From there, they returned home to Montague to enjoy retirement. He was an active community member, lifelong dog lover, and enjoyed curling, and later stick curling, golfing, gardening, building (he designed and built his own sticks for stick curling) and fixing things in the shop. He was also a long time Mason and Eastern Star member. Bob could hold your attention for hours with his avid storytelling of family history, characters he had encountered at work and in the community, and growing up in PEI.
Special thanks are extended to the staff at Dr. John M. Gillis Memorial Lodge.
Resting at Ferguson Logan Montague Funeral Home with visitation on Thursday, May 5th from 4 to 6 pm. A Masonic service will be held after visitation hours. A funeral service will take place in the Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, May 6th at 11 am with Live Streaming. Donations of remembrance to the PEI Humane Society (peihumanesociety.com) are welcome. Condolences may be shared with the family online by visiting www.fergusonlogan.com.