Robert Francis Stephan of Southern Pines, North Carolina, passed away September 17, 2018, at age 93. Bob was born June 30, 1925, in New York City and grew up in Chicago. After starting college at the University of Notre Dame, he transferred to the University of Michigan to join the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, where he received his bachelor’s degree. He served at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyards as lieutenant commander until after World War II ended and then returned to the Universityof Michigan to complete his MBA. Bob moved back to Chicago and married Donna Niemann in 1952 and together they raised their family in Park Ridge and Barrington, Ill.
Bob had a rewarding marketing management career with Aldens, Allied Radio and later Brunswick Corporation in Chicago. He taught marketing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Roosevelt University, served on the board of Kendall College, and enjoyed various speaking and marketing consulting engagements. An avid lifelong golfer, Bob was delighted to retire with Donna to Seven Lakes, North Carolina, where their home overlooked the 9th hole on the course that he frequently played with friends. Bob joined the Lions Club at Seven Lakes and later served as president. He was a longtime parishioner and lector at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Donna, his five children, Robert (Catherine) of Wausau, Wisc., Roderick (Kristine Clark) of Long Grove, Ill., Barton (Rebecca) of Parker, Colo., Gary (Candy) of Columbia, South Carolina, Martina Kotek (James) of Appleton, Wisc., and 18 grandchildren and 9 ¾ great-grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held at the chapel at Belle Meade, 100 Waters Drive, Southern Pines, North Carolina, at 2 p.m. Sat., Sept. 22.
Services are entrusted to Boles funeral Home of Southern Pines.
To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Robert Francis Stephan, please visit Boles’ Tribute Store.
Online condolences: BolesFuneralHome.com.
