Bob Warner BA'75

1950-2020 A tribute from Chris Larsen Associate'99

This past June, the Saint Mary’s community was deeply saddened by the untimely and sudden passing of Bob Warner, a name that will always be synonymous with Huskies Hockey. As a player, Bob was a SMU Hall of Fame defenceman under the legendary Bob Boucher. For four straight years, he helped the Huskies reach the National Championship final, including as Captain in his senior year. After graduating, Bob signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs and embarked upon a pro career that took him to Maple Leaf Gardens and across North America, ending in 1981 after 399 pro games. While hockey was Warner’s sporting passion, his true love in life was his wife Rachelle, herself a SMU alumna. A lifelong partnership that radiated caring and love also brought them a son, Marc, and two daughters, Jennifer BA'00 and Lisa BA'02. A fiercely proud Hockey Huskies alumnus, Bob spent 6 decades relentlessly supporting his Alma Mater and Huskies. A key figure in the Bob Boucher Hockey Assistance Fund and a leadership role in helping shape alumni engagement when SMU hosted the 2016 Hockey Nationals are but two examples. How fitting that Bob served as Co-Chair of the SMU Hockey Huskies Reunion last October which also marked the coming out party for the new Dauphinee Centre. It is said that when a candle burns out, it makes you smile to think about all of the lives it lit up along the way. Bob’s spirit lives on in our memories with a gleam in his eye and a “Warnie” smile on his face. Forever a Hockey Huskies Captain.

To learn about the Bob Warner Memorial Award and make a donation to the fund, please click here.