Robert Norman "Bob" Dietrick

Robert Norman Dietrick, Bob, or Bobby, as his friends knew him, passed away at St. Vincent Hospital on December 7, 2022, at the age of 67. Bob leaves behind his wife, Karen, daughter, Blair, son, Bo, daughter-in-law, Catty, and grandson, Wally. He was a lifelong member of the Indianapolis community, alongside his surviving siblings Deb (Marten), Andy, Chris, Jan (Huxhold), and P.J. Bob was born on August 22, 1955, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis to Robert Edward and Janet Matches Dietrick. He attended St. Pius X for grade school and middle school, and Bishop Chatard for high school, where he was an active athlete and an accomplished student. At Purdue University, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, played on the Purdue baseball team, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. After graduating from Purdue in 1977, Bob joined his father in the family business – Robert E. Dietrick Manufacturer’s Representative. Upon his father’s retirement in 1984, Bob founded Robert Dietrick Co., Inc., a manufacturer’s representative and industrial solutions provider for the loading dock and specialty door arena throughout Indiana and the surrounding states. Today, his business legacy continues with an operation employing 100 Indiana residents with offices located in the Fishers, Columbia City, Evansville, and Columbus communities. RDC remains a family-owned business to this day. Outside of his successful professional career, Bob was a devoted father, avid baseball fan, and voracious reader. He also had a passion for mentoring and served as a coach to many young men and women of the community spanning several decades. Bob will be remembered for his warm greetings and thoughtful conversations with anyone he encountered. He had a true interest in and enthusiasm for hearing what other people had to say. Bob lived as Henry David Thoreau observed: “The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.” A celebration of life honoring Bob Dietrick will be held on Sunday December 18, 2022, at the Elements Financial Club at Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis. A formal presentation will take place at 1:30 pm, followed by an open house reception that will conclude at 5:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to Indy Reads at giving.indyreads.org. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leppertmortuarynora.com for the Dietrick family.