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Leslie Robert Freeman, the third president of the
Ontario Jaguar Owners' Association, died in Oakville on
Friday, July 23rd 1982.
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He held a lifelong interest in motor vehicles and
motor sport and for many years was the Legal Counsel for the
C.A.S.C., the governing body for Auto Sport in Canada. Bob,
as he was known to his friends, was an enthusiastic motorist
with a high regard for the traditional features of the automobile.
So much so that in 1969 after some correspondence with
Sir William Lyons a manual shift XJ6 with an overdrive was
brought into Canada for his personal use. Cars were much
more than a hobby with L. R. Freeman, and he was keenly
interested in desiqn and performance and had acquired some
skill in the maintenance of mechanical components.
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It was to be expected that he was always a busy man
and as the saying goes, they are the men who get things done.
It was considered a duty and a solemn responsibility to make
the country a better place in which to live. L. R. Freeman
personally canvassed every home in his constituency area
during election times. So thoroughly was this accomplished
that the results always gave him pleasure. He was a man of stately
bearing with a gentle personaLity and being an Edwardian
practiced the use of the: Enqlish language in the style and
character associated with the classics, his eloquence being
matched by a keen, sensitive mind and the ability to recall a
quotation germane to an occasion.
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It was in 1930 that Robert Freeman arrived in
Canada from his native London and shortly afterwards entered
the Insurance business. Soon after the outbreak of the War
he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and rose to the
rank of Wing Commander.
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After the War Mr. Freeman entered Osgoode Hall Law
School, and to quote one of his contemporaries, passed with
flying colours. Since he had previously acquired a basic
knowledge of insurance contracts, it was logical for him to
be a specialist in this branch of the profession, and later to
become a lecturer on this subject for the Continuing Education
Committee, of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
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It has been said that the Courts had respect for his
reasoned dependable submissions,always presented in scholarly
English for which he had achieved an uncommon mastery. There
is no doubt that he would have been a good judge, although had
he gone to the bench many students might have missed his
wholehearted interest in their careers and the clarity with
which he conducted discussions regarding the law and insurance.
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The marriage to his wife Nora was as generous to
others as it was happy for them since their many shared interests
included hospitality for which they had a memorable talent,
exercised on many occasions. Mr. Freeman leaves his wife Nora,
a daughter, Mrs. Alex Roberts of Quebec City, and a son, Derek
R. Freeman of Toronto.
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Wm. A. Stewart
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Jan 11, 2012 by Webmaster