A former broadcaster, city councillor and mayor of Saint John is being remembered as a man known for his bravery and never one to slow down.
Bob Lockhart — who served as mayor of Saint John from 1971 to 1974 and again from 1980 to 1983 — died Sunday at the Veterans Health Unit in Fredericton. He was 92.
“Bob, who spent his last years in Fredericton, was not only known for his upbeat nature but also for his wealth of knowledge on numerous subjects of which he was never shy to share,” reads his obituary.
“He could often be seen at a variety of military-related events, including Remembrance Day and Highland Games.”
Born in 1931 in Pictou, N.S., Lockhart was the eldest son of Robert Maclean Lockhart and Geraldine Green. He had two siblings.
Before starting his career in politics, Lockhart worked as a reporter for radio stations across Atlantic Canada. Lockhart moved to Saint John in 1961 to become news director of CFBC, where he launched Talk of the Town, a morning show that lasted until 2006.
He eventually was elected president of Broadcast News, a division of The Canadian Press wire service. Lockhart also worked in Europe, the Middle East, Vietnam, Bosnia, and Kosovo as a war correspondent.
He was named in 2007 to the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
Lockhart served the City of Saint John as a councillor for two years and as mayor from 1971 to 1974 and 1980 to 1983. Among his highlights was being named an honourary lifetime member of the Saint John Policeman’s Protective Association and Saint John and Moncton Firefighters Association.
Once he retired as mayor of Saint John, Lockhart served with the Canadian Armed Forces as a lieutenant-colonel, leading the Canadian Forces Logistics Association, the Canadian Airborne Forces Association, and the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA).
“Never one to slow down, the 1990s saw Bob earning a BA (First class honours in English and History), the UNB Certificate of University Teaching, and an MA (English) at the respective age of 59 and 62,” his obituary reads.
“He served two terms as member of the UNB Board of Governors and was a member of the UNB Research Ethics Board (REB). During this time, he was also active in numerous community service roles, including CNIB and VoicePrint Broadcasting.”
Lockhart is survived by his three children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, wife Betty Cleve Wentzel, brother David and sister Norma.