Robert Irish

Robert Reon (Bob) Irish passed away suddenly on July 3rd, 2010 at the University of Toledo Medical Center. He is survived by his beloved wife of thirty-two years, Helene (Bine), step-son James Bine, step-daughter Linda Poe and many neices, nephews and cousins. Bob Irish was the youngest child of Ebenezer Newton Irish and Laura (Harris) Irish. His six brothers and sisters preceded him in death; Frances, Lawrence, Minne Marie, Vivian, Sheldon and Eben.

Bob grew up on a farm near Blandinsville, Illinois. He attended Blandinsville schools and was baptized at Blandinsville Christian Church. He graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign, where he studied sociology, psychology and economics. While at the university he joined the ROTC and after college had state-side officer training at Ft. Sill, OK; Ft. Bragg, NC; Ft. Benning, GA and Fort Hood, TX. In April 1945, the Army shipped him out to LeHarve, France and from there he went to Munich, Germany. He was discharged from the service July 26th, 1946. He subsequently remained in Germany, working various positions in the civil service as personnel director, auditor, fiscal accountant and assistant controller. He returned to the United States in 1951.

In addition to his BA degree, Bob also received a Masters in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and, in 1970, he was awarded a PhD in Accounting from the University of Texas.

One of Bob's greatest loves was teaching. He himself said that his students were his children, he "knew them and loved to see their progress." He was a professor at numerous universities, including Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Wayne State, Ohio Northern University and the University of Tucson, Arizona. The majority of his teaching was at the University of Toledo from which he retired in 1991. At U of T, he said he had a "dream teaching situation, the students learned through diligent preparation and I actually acquired psychic income from teaching them."

As a fond Uncle and cousin to many, he was known as the Irish family historian and was responsible for organizing the annual family reunion in Blandinsville. Bob was so good at encouraging attendance, there were often as many as 60 cousins at the reunions. He called them "gatherings of food, love and friendship." Bob will be greatly missed and the cousins have agreed to dedicate the 2011 reunion as a special occasion to honor, "Uncle."

In 1991, Bob suffered a heart attack. Subsequently, he changed his eating habits, became a vegan and started exercising regularly. He also become very involved with the Toledo Roadrunners. He took the benefits of his change of lifestyle very seriously and always urged others to do the same. His e-mails to relatives often reminded, "You are what you eat, drink or ingest into your body."

For those wishing a kind expression of sympathy, please consider Toledo Roadrunners or Bethany Community Fellowship, 5757 Flanders Rd., Toledo, Ohio 43560.