Obituary of Robert Martin Fink

Robert Martin ("Bob") Fink December 29, 1935, New York – September 8, 2016, Saskatoon With appreciation for many memories, laughs and interesting times, the family of Bob Fink announces his peaceful passing at home. Born and raised in New York, as a young man he moved to Detroit, where he earned a music degree from Wayne State University and worked as a graphic artist. Bob moved to Saskatoon in his 30s, and it became his lifelong home. Passionate and caring, Bob is best known for his social activism, including his legal victory for the right to poster in public locations. His case serves as a legal precedent across Canada, the United States and elsewhere for the right to communicate in that way. He is also known for his work in anti-poverty, environmentalist and peace groups, organizing large demonstrations, writing articles in several Saskatoon weekly newspapers and a column in the Star Phoenix. As a musicologist, Bob achieved international fame in the musicology community for his Internet essay on the world's oldest known flute, the Neanderthal Flute, and books, research and essays on the origins of music, most of which can be found in hundreds of music libraries worldwide as well as the Internet, where his website www.webster.sk.ca is among the largest and most visited of musical sites. Bob will also be remembered for his art, especially his drawings of Saskatoon heritage sites such as the former CP Station, several of which were commissioned by the City and displayed in various City Hall offices. He performed concerts of his own music, receiving excellent reviews and resulting in the production of CDs and several years' broadcast on local cable TV. He produced posters, books, essays, CDs, sheet music, drawings and prints, all of which display a high level of skill and intuition. He published his own journal, Crosscurrents, for several years and had a small but devoted readership look forward to reading his views on local, national and international issues. Bob became a Canadian citizen. He ran unsuccessfully in local elections, and was a good friend to many in his local community of Riversdale, where he lived in a house he designed and built himself. Bob was predeceased by his son Darcey John Fink and grandson Mathew. Bob was also predeceased by his parents Sally and Leo and his brothers Sheldon and Mickey, all in the US. He is survived by his good friend and former spouse Candace Norton, daughter Cassandra ("Sandy") Chernoff, grandchildren Andrew, Tyson, Paris and Mischa, beloved cats Dickens, Toonie and Houdini, and many friends. Bob marched to the tune of his own drummer. He was an honest and good person, direct on occasion, always in pursuit of what he saw as the common good. He deeply cared about the community which he had chosen to make his home. He was respected and will be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. .