Noteworthy

Building a great city is about more than its economy—it’s about enhancing the quality of life of its people. Throughout Robin Korthals’s remarkable life, his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to Toronto helped shape the city as we know it today. From his transformative leadership at Toronto Dominion (TD) Bank to his steadfast support of the Toronto arts scene, Robin exemplified a generation of city builders who believe that Toronto is a great place to live.

The TSO announced a $1-million gift from the Estate of Robin Korthals on November 28, 2024, with a concert dedicated to his memory and attended by his family. With this gift in his will, Robin’s legacy will live on through the music that defines and uplifts our city. 

Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, to a Dutch father and Scottish mother in 1933, Robert “Robin” Korthals spent his early years in Curaçao before coming to Canada at age 13 to attend Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario. His academic journey continued at the University of Toronto, where he majored in chemical engineering. He then received a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University in 1961. 

Robin chose Toronto as his permanent home, launching a career in the investment business that would shape his legacy. Joining TD in 1967, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a vice president in 1972, an executive vice president in 1978, and ultimately the bank’s fifth president in 1981 at just 47 years old. Colleagues described him as “a gifted thinker with a curious nature and willingness to experiment with technologies” who possessed a “curiosity and intellect…always functioning full steam ahead.” Upon Robin’s retirement in 1995, TD Chairman Dick Thomson celebrated him as a creative thinker, innovator, and visionary. His family and friends knew him as a sailor, cyclist, nature lover, and explorer.

It was during his time as TD’s president that Robin’s love for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra began to flourish. He attended concerts regularly and became a donor, joining the Maestro’s Club in 2000—a membership he maintained for over two decades. In a 2015 note to the TSO, Robin reflected: “The TSO deserves support because it enriches the city.”

Robin’s love for classical music was sparked during quiet nights at Ridley College when he would listen to the radio and let the music transport him. That passion became a life-long companion, deepening over decades of attending TSO concerts. His wife of 22 years, Janet Charlton, recalls how much joy they shared in those evenings together and how, in his final months, classical music soothed him.

We are grateful for donors like Robin, whose support ensures that classical music will continue to enrich Toronto for generations.

If you have already included the TSO in your will, we would like to recognize and celebrate your generosity as a member of the TSO’s Legacy Circle. To learn more about the benefits of being a member, please contact Emelita Ervin, Senior Development Officer, Legacy Giving, at eervin@TSO.CA or 416.595.4259.