Obituary of Robert Matthys van Eyk

It is with deep sadness that we share news of the unexpected passing of Robert van Eyk on March 18, 2025 at age 78. His life was well lived, full of achievement, adventure, close friends and good memories.

A graduate of the Ivey School of Business at Western University, Robert was a driven entrepreneur and management consultant. Over his lifetime, he launched numerous businesses in the retail sector (Kiddlywinks and Kleren), property development (Avada), international development (Ryk Oliver) and sustainable energy (Windfield). 

His work and his sense of adventure took him on travels across North America and Europe to the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, India, Africa and numerous other destinations around the world, often with family and close friends as travel companions.

His life-long love of music and animals, which he instilled in his children, brought a liveliness to beautiful homes that expressed his interest in the finer things in life. He played the piano well, which he returned to in the past few years, playing everything from Beethoven to the Beatles. In his final years, he also rekindled a love for nature on his daily walks through Montebello.

While he was a strongly independent man, he was an equally loving husband to ex-wives Shirley and Valerie; a sincere companion to his partner Jan; a proud father of Jason (Colin), Olivia (Sonny) and Victoria (Andrew), and grandfather to Jack, Grace Kelly, Emanuella and Nora; an enduring friend, especially to Doug Mirsky and Edmond Kingsbury; a respected step-sibling of Bill, Wilma, Ron, Mike, Joe and John; and a fondly-remembered cousin to Jannie, Mieke and Gerard.  Robert was pre-deceased by his mother Adriana, father Hendrik, stepfather Johannes, stepsister Wilma and stepbrother Ron, and his ex-wife Shirley.     

He will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched. A celebration of Robert’s life will be held at Pinecrest Remembrance Services, 2500 Baseline Road on Monday March 31 from 11am – 1pm with a graveside service to follow.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Robert’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.ca) and to Trillium Health Partners – Cardiology (www.thp.ca)