January 28, 2022 People/Dining/Shopping/Events/Culture All defining Livonia
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Bob Hardies established his Family Trust, making sure that his template for giving back to the community continued long after he left this earth.
August, 2019. Bob Hardies passed away. Too young. Too soon. Livonia may have lost Bob but can there be any doubt that his love for Livonia would continue. That he would continue reaching out, making an impact, touching the lives of so many, for this generation and the next.
17 months after his passing seven individuals at the invitation of Carol Brodbeck, Successor Trustee of the Hardies Family Trust, held a zoom meeting to discuss how the Bob Hardies template of giving back to the community would continue.
After two hours of healthy discussion, the first round of the Hardies Family Trust was dispersed with seven contributions being designated. Seedlings Braille Books, Livonia Youth Choir, Livonia Civic Chorus, Livonia Symphony Orchestra, Livonia Community Foundation, Clarenceville Education Foundation.
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Year one $119,232. Bob was smiling.
One year later the same seven individuals dialed up for another discussion.
Methodist Children's Home, Shakespeare in the Park, Seedlings Braille Books, Livonia Youth Choir, Livonia Civic Chorus, Livonia Symphony Orchestra, Livonia Community Foundation, Clarenceville's Botsford Elementary School, Greenmead, Motor City Youth Theatre, Livonia Youth Symphony of Michigan.
Year two $236,759. Bob's smile just got bigger. Add to that a big grin with his head nodding up and down.
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The typewriter drives down Seven Mile starting to pull into the Blue Plate Diner where Bob Hardies and I would meet often for lunch. The Diner is gone and so is Bob.
The typewriter passes the Golf Course on Seven Mile where Bob would enjoy holding fort during the Livonia Symphony Orchestra as he was the major sponsor year after year for the outing. The golf outing has moved to another location and yes, the same can be said for Bob as well.
With no Symphony Concerts for two years, Bob would be getting frustrated right about now as he loved the orchestra.
The Youth Symphony as well. Seedlings, Civic Chorus. Rotary.
And then the luncheons where we would talk about the Best Kept Secrets of Livonia. Out of which came the 4 volume set of books that he enjoyed sharing with new residents moving into town.
Livonia has so many organizations that have as their mission of giving back to the community. Some in memory such as the Ian Clemens Foundation. The Fernon Feenstra Scholarship from the Kiwanis Early Risers. The Karen MacIver Scholarship from the Clarenceville Education Foundation.
Livonia Kids and Families. Livonia Community Foundation. Livonia Rotary Noon. Livonia Rotary AM. First Responders Foundation. Livonia Education Foundation. Livonia Jaycees. Zonta Club.
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This past Fall the Hardies Family Trust donated new wrestling mats to Clarenceville High School. Dan MacIver and Carol Brodbeck were on hand for the mat dedication. |
Many stopped by the F&PA offices over the years to chat up Bob Hardies' mother, Ann, and Abbey the official greeter at F&PA. |
One of the best, most fun social outings of the year was, until the Pandemic, the Annual Seedlings Bowling Tournament. Center stage was Bob Hardies sponsor of 2 teams each year. |
Bob Hardies was so happy with the success of his first 3 volumes of Best Kept Secrets of Livonia that he partnered with Livonia Parks and Recreation to do one highlighting each of the 65 parks in Livonia. |
Bob Hardies enjoyed autographing his Best Kept Secrets of Livonia. In this case, signing for Past President of the Livonia Symphony Orchestra Rose Kachnowski. All proceeds from the 10,000 copies in circulation were donated to any number of Livonia Non-profits. |
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$236,759 donated in 2022
119,232 donated in 2021
$355,991 two year total
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Methodist Children's Home
$18,000
Fund three expressive therapy programs at Methodist Children's Home during 2022.
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Shakespeare in the Park
$10,000
A joint venture of Shakespeare in the Park between Livonia Parks and Recreation and Livonia Community
Theatre July 29-31.
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Seedlings Braille Books
$24,000
Purchase a new Braillo Cut machine and new computers, software, and accessories.
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Clarenceville Education Foundation
$5,000
Provide and support scholarship in the name of Karen MacIver.
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Greenmead
$30,000
Seed money and challenge to other groups to construct a permanent ice rink at Greenmead.
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Botsford Elementary School
$19,800
Improve welcome foyer, teacher lounge, and basketball stands.
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Livonia Youth Choir
$7,000
Tuition, scholarships, Salaries of Director, Program assistant, and accompanist.
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Livonia Civic Chorus
$50,000
Funds to cover key expenses to meet the Mission of the Chorus, the new Sound Quality Project, and the redesign and restructuring of the Scholarship Program.
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Livonia Symphony Orchestra
$40,000
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Livonia Community Foundation
$10,000
Supplement available funds to make grants to organizations in the community that provides a safety net for those in need and help fund COVID first responder's fund.
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Motor City Youth Theatre
$9,959
Replace aging chairlift with a new chairlift to meet ADA criteria. To provide curtains for the front lobby for temperature control.
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Livonia Youth Symphony of Michigan
$10,000
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Postal Address
19514 Bainbridge 48152
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E-mail
rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com
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Robert Alexander Hardies of Northville Township, Michigan passed away on August 12, 2019, at his office in Livonia, Michigan. He was born 8/25/1954 to Robert Alfred Hardies and Novalette Anamarylis (Ann) Hardin. He was preceded in passing by his parents.
He graduated from Kimball High School in Royal Oak, Michigan, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration from Western Michigan University. He formerly worked as a Field Service Engineer for Pontiac at General Motors. He earned his Masters in Estate Planning & Taxation and Accredited Tax Preparer designation from the College of Financial Planning in Denver, CO.
Bob founded Financial & Portfolio Advisors, Ltd., (F&PA) in 1990 and served as its President, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Compliance Officer. F&PA served clients in Livonia, Michigan, the West-Metro Detroit Area, and nationally.
Though he resided in Northville Township, MI, he adopted Livonia as his hometown and served as an active member of the Rotary Club of Livonia. Desiring to cultivate a culture of philanthropy in Livonia, he supported the Livonia Symphony Orchestra, Livonia Youth Symphony, the Livonia Civic Chorus, Seedlings, and the Clarenceville Education Foundation among others.
He wrote the Best Kept Secrets of Livonia, a four-volume set of historical significance, which has nearly 10,000 copies in circulation.
During his free time, he enjoyed walking his beloved dog Abbey, reading, traveling, and photography.
Bob Hardies, offering a template for leaving a legacy of
giving back to the town you call home.
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