In addition to his significant contributions to MISA, Bob also established a successful career as data processing (MIS) director for the City of Mississauga, Ontario.

He was also instrumental in creating the predecessor to MISA Ontario in 1967 – the Government Data Processing Users Group – which tried to bring colleagues from municipalities across Canada together. A conference was even held, but at that time so few municipalities had computer systems that the logistics were insurmountable.

As a result, Ontario municipal data processing and systems managers, mostly from the Golden Horseshoe, got together from time to time as a kind of informal “kaffe klatch” to discuss mutual trials and tribulations.

Protest Group

When the Province of Ontario took over municipal property assessment and planned to impose a new standard assessment system that would cause hundreds of programs to be rewritten, Bob helped organize a protest group. In 1969 a meeting was held with that group and provincial representatives.

Considering that the systems people represented a large population in Ontario, there was significant political pressure to listen to them, and their input was taken into account.

The need to have some say in what the provincial people were doing as well as influence vendors kept the connections going among the group. They began meeting, still informally, but more regularly.

I met Bob shortly after I joined the Ministry of Municipal Affairs in 1970. One of my projects was research and liaison with municipalities, primarily because I was one of the few people with an information systems background as well as an accounting designation.

Our initial encounter was somewhat influenced by Bob's negative experiences with provincial colleagues. When he found that I actually listened to what he had to say, however, our encounters became more of a cautious friendliness and eventually blossomed into a strong friendship – although he still delighted in comments about the province!

Bob was a firm believer in keeping costs down, an attitude doubtless dear to Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion's heart. In those early days he bought used computer equipment from companies going out of business.

Nevertheless he was open to new ideas, and Mississauga was one of the first municipalities to use scanners. He also believed in control over inventory. As a member of the Data Processing Managers Association (DPMA), he served as president.

Bob welcomed me to the informal meetings that preceded MISA. He also welcomed my comments, particularly when it would help with relations with the province.

Gradual Organization

The first inventory of computers and applications was compiled by that group, using Bob's inventory forms, and the results were typed by Frank Thickett of Etobicoke. When they realized that a more formal organization was needed, Bob was a strong voice and brought his DPMA experience to the discussions. Later, when MISA Ontario was formally established with by-laws and elected Executive, Bob and I became the constitutional experts and advisers.

He was also one of those who advocated bringing small municipalities into MISA Ontario and the creation of regional divisions. He supported the first conference in Ottawa in 1979 and was always ready to serve on committees.

Nothing fazed Bob. Some of you may recall the disaster that hit Mississauga when a tanker overturned and poisonous gas floated over the city, necessitating a major evacuation. In the midst of this, Bob continued with a planned meeting of the MISA Ontario Executive.

"Don't worry,” he said, “they've got emergency vehicles patrolling the area and, if the atmosphere gets dangerous, we’ll adjourn to other quarters."

When Bob retired in 1985, he still retained an interest in MISA Ontario although he pursued other interests too – the Masons, later the Shriners, golf and cruises. In fact, he was a member of the three MISA conferences held at Fern Resort in 1988, 1990 and 1994. The Conference Committee met at his Scarborough home – it was central, he had all the records, and you couldn’t beat his hospitality!

In the last few years I would have lost touch with Bob, had I not managed to find his new address. I planned to visit over Christmas, looking forward to talking about old times and new. Unfortunately, he had a fall from which he never recovered.

Bob is survived by daughters Joanne and Kathryn, and grandsons Ronald and Tom.

For all of you who, like myself, want to remember Bob, let me quote from his obituary.

“To honour (Bob) please raise a glass of good red wine or single malt scotch in a toast to life. Cook a good family dinner or bake a lemon meringue pie. Splurge on a marvellous restaurant meal. Enjoy these things and remember Bob McKean who loved good friends, good food, good talks and always a good joke."

So here's to you, Bob – a gentleman in every sense of the word and a good friend to MISA and to me.

dsteen@on.aibn.com

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Nasim Karsan

C’est avec une profonde tristesse que ASIM /MISA Canada annonce le décès, survenu le 20 juin dernier, de Nasim Karsan de Richmond, en Colombie-Britannique, après six mois de lutte contre le cancer.

Robert Surtees de la municipalité de villégiature de Whistler, directeur des communications et des relations publiques de MISA BC, nous fait part de ses réflexions :

« Au moment où j’écris ces mots, je prends conscience de l’importante influence qu’a eue Nasim sur la vie des gens tant par ses actions que par sa douceur. La semaine, Nasim était directrice des systèmes d’applications pour la Ville de Richmond, où elle était hautement respectée et sera fortement regrettée.

« J’ai connu Nasim à MISA BC. où elle était secrétaire de direction. Elle était de ces êtres rares qui vous accueillent toujours avec un sourire, ont toujours un mot gentil d’encouragement et sont toujours prêts à accepter une tâche et à la mener à terme.

« Sa vision de la vie était positive : à quelque chose malheur est bon! En tant que membre de la “famille” ASIM, Nasim nous manquera à tous. »

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Peter Bennett