If you or your children attended Olympia Sports Camp between 1981 and 1995, you likely had the pleasure of being coached in tennis by Bob Lister, one of Leaside’s most dedicated volunteers.
Bob and his cherished and, sadly, dearly departed wife Lis have contributed so much to so many Leaside organizations. They were a humble and admirable team. Bob carries on their legacy.
A talented young athlete in hockey and tennis, Bob certified as a Level 3 Ontario Tennis Association coach and started coaching – skills that proved an asset throughout his teaching career.
In 2010 Bob retired from teaching. Shortly thereafter Lis retired from nursing. She’d started her career at Sunnybrook Hospital, right after graduation, and later became a professor of nursing at Centennial College and Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) after earning her master’s degree.
Not surprisingly, Bob misses Lis immensely. “I’m lucky to have had such a loving, supportive life partner. For 52 years we shared values of family, faith, community and service while harmoniously co-leading many activities with and for others. She was my angel.”
The couple experienced many adventures together. During 15 summers at Camp Olympia, Lis coordinated complex tennis lesson scheduling for six indoor and six outdoor courts, come rain or shine, plus matching levels and on-court time for the all-campers’ evening house league. Meanwhile, Bob oversaw coaches and taught tennis and life lessons, fueling fun, friendship and fitness.
At the camp, they, along with other coaches, counsellors, and campers, had the pleasure of advancing the camp founder Dave Grace’s philosophy. For over 50 years Grace has advocated sports, at every level, for building confidence when facing challenges, developing character, and leadership abilities. In 2025, the NBA chose Camp Olympia to deliver the prestigious NBA Basketball School curriculum.
For decades Bob and George Hurst (profiled in Leaside Life in Jan. 2018) have helmed a team of 80 volunteers, orchestrating the May and October Awesome sales. Leasiders can be forgiven for mistaking Bob for a church employee. At every sale he’s everywhere. You’ll catch him with a smile, receiving and storing donations, setting up tables, hanging signs, fetching supplies for volunteers, welcoming customers, providing directions, and supporting George, whose list is just as long. Lis’s role was heading up the shoes and accessories department, always exquisitely organized, shoes by size and scarves by colour.
Bob mentioned a unique experience he and Lis enjoyed, so much so that they repeated it for two decades. “Our children came later in life whether birthed, adopted or acquired, and until they arrived, we had summers free. We noticed that many parents at Leaside United never took vacations. When we asked why, they admitted they had no family nearby to care for their children. So, we volunteered to take care of their kids for a few days while they vacationed.”
Bob and Lis also led pre-marriage courses at the church for 20 years. “Luckily, we only had a few couples deciding to postpone their walk down the aisle.”
