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A leading member of New Brunswick’s Irving family has died.
Robert K. Irving of Moncton, the co-CEO of J.D. Irving Ltd., died Tuesday. His death was announced by the family in a news release.
“It is with profound sadness that the family of Robert Kenneth Irving mark his passing today in Moncton, New Brunswick, following a courageous battle with cancer,” the statement said.
Robert Irving led J.D. Irving with his brother, Jim Irving. The company is a major employer in the province with forestry, retail, transportation and consumer products divisions.
The 71-year-old was also president of Cavendish Farms headquartered in Dieppe. The company operates plants in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Alberta and North Dakota.
The company is P.E.I.’s largest private-sector employer and one of the island’s largest landowners. It describes itself as North America’s fourth largest producer of frozen potato products.
Robert Irving owned the Moncton Wildcats team, which plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Robert Irving was born Dec. 3, 1954, in Saint John to James Kenneth Irving and Jean Elizabeth Saunders Irving. He was the grandson of K.C. Irving.
He graduated from Acadia University in Nova Scotia with a business degree.
The family statement says he established J.D. Irving’s Moncton operations in 1977 and has called the area home since then.
“He was proud to represent the fifth generation in the family business. He considered himself fortunate to share both the daily challenges and long-term vision of the business with his brother Jim.”
He was married to Jill Irving for nearly 40 years and had four children and four grandchildren.
He was a member of the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame, the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame, and the P.E.I. Business Hall of Fame. He was named a recipient of the Order of Moncton in 2020 and Order of New Brunswick in 2024.
The City of Moncton said the businesses he led employed more than 2,000 people in the Greater Moncton area.
The Order of New Brunswick description says he led various fundraisers, including chairing capital campaigns for the Friends of the Moncton Hospital Foundation, which helped raise more than $20 million.
Underwent treatment last year
In September 2025, the Canadian Press reported Irving was being treated for cancer.
A spokesperson told the news service that Irving had surgery for cancer on July 29 and was undergoing treatment.
The type of cancer, and where Irving was being treated, was not disclosed.
The statement Tuesday said funeral arrangements will be announced later.
