We are writing to you to advise that BGen(R) Robert Alden, OMM, CD 1939-2013 has lost his 6 year battle with cancer on April 12th 2013.

A celebration of life will be held from 1-3pm on Wednesday 17 April at Fort Frontenac Officers’ Mess in Kingston.

The family wish to thank the nurses, doctors and staff at Saint Elizabeth, Kingston General Hospital and St. Mary’s of the Lake for their care and compassion.

Donations in lieu of flowers should be made to the Canadian Cancer Society

Bob started his career in the Canadian Army in 1957 when he attended CMR and RMC. In 1963 he was posted to 1st Bn of the Black Watch as a platoon commander. He was nominated to attend the basic parachute course in 1964 and as a prize for graduating he posted to Germany the British Army. He was an exchange officer with the British Black Watch. During this time he married Jane, his wife of 48 years, and his first son Patrick(future Royal) was born. Upon returning to Canada he returned to 1st Bn RHC in Gagetown for 6 months before being posted to RMC as the Assistant Army Staff officer. While in Kingston Joel was born. The family left Kingston and moved to Gagetown and 2nd Bn RHC. In Sept 1969 Bob spent eight months wearing a blue beret in Cyprus. In 1970 Capt Alden attended the Army Staff College as one of the last members of the Black Watch as the Reg force portion of the Regiment was stood down. 1971 found newly promoted Maj Alden commanding a Coy in 3 Mech Cdo.(part of the Canadian Airborne Regiment). 1974 found Bob replacing the maroon beret of the CAR with the green beret and eight pointed star of the RCR and on the move again, this time to Cornwallis NS, as the first Chief Instructor of the new integrated Canadian Forces Recruit School. 1976 found Bob headed to Edmonton and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. The family knew this would be a short posting as Bob had been tasked with seeing the regiment moving to Petawawa the following summer. Bob watched the CAR move to their new home then passed them as once again the family moved to Gagetown and CTC for a year. In 1977 newly promoted LCol Alden found himself Petawawa bound as the DCO of the CAR. The family found itself on the move 10 months later in June 1979 as Bob took over command of 3 RCR then part of 4CMBG in Germany. In 1981 the family’s shortest move occurred when the family moved down the road where Bob was the SSO Ops for 4 CMBG. 1983 May 25, Bob was invested into the OMM as an officer. He was also promoted and posted to Winnipeg as Chief of Staff for the Prairie Region (Militia). In 1985 Bob was privileged to swear Pat in as a private in the RCR. 1986 Bob and Jane went back to Germany and HQ CFE in Lahr. Two years later in 1988 newly promoted BGen Alden moved up the road to Heidelberg to take over as Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Central Army Group (NATO). 1992 Bob and Jane were posted to Kingston where Bob was appointed the Commandant of the Army Staff College and the Deputy Comd 1 Can Div.