Robert Bob E. Bedore

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Bob (Robert E.) Bedore who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty and decency with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Bob was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Bob knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Bob was born on December 29, 1932 at Lying Inn of the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Bud and Monica Bedore. Bob was raised on the southside of Chicago. Even as a youngster, Bob learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Bob was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Bob was raised with two siblings. He had a younger brother, Jack and a younger sister, Joyce. Bob had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Bob, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Bob's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Bob enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Bob took part in baseball and basketball. In his spare time he liked playing ball in the playground at St. Gall's and working at Vic's drug store on Christiana near his southside home.

In school, Bob was a logical and focused thinker, Bob was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Bob’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time." He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was math. The teachers he enjoyed learning from the most were Sister Martha and Sister George.

Bob was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Bob was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Bob came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Charlie, Pro, Ozzie and the rest of the 55th St. boys. Later in life, he became friends with Freddie and the Board of Trade boys.

An objective and conscientious individual, Bob reveled in the security of his family. On Valentine's day, February 14, 1953 Bob exchanged wedding vows with Lorraine Janet Peterson at the St. Gall Catholic Church of Chicago, Illinois. One of Bob’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Bob was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Bob would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Bob was blessed with four children, three sons, Bobby, Gary and Tim and one daughter, Gail. He was also blessed with Bobby's wife, his daughter in law Joanie, five grandchildren, Julianne, Elizabeth, Ryan, Sean and Nathan, and three great grandchildren, Haley, Ethan and Gabrielle.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Bob was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Bob was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Bob upheld his standards. His primary occupation was as a broker at the Chicago Board of Trade. Bob was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Bob was a veteran of the United States Navy. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women. He was stationed at a naval base off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of 1st Class Petty Officer.

Bob approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were golf, reading, crossword puzzles, spectator sports, race horses and online poker. Bob was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Bob to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. Recreational sports included golf — oh, how he loved golf — plus bowling. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball (Bob loved the White Sox) college basketball, the NFL, and golf. Bob had Sox season tickets for years and Chicago Blackhawks season tickets as well. He often took his boys to the games.

A civic-minded person, Bob was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Politically, Bob was a Republican. During these years, Bob applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

Faith was important to Bob. He held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay he saw around him. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He was a member of Queen of Martyrs parish in Chicago and later St. Joan of Arc parish in Lisle. As a child, he was an altar boy. As an adult, he was an Eucharistic minister.

As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, Bob could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to him by those he helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for Bob; rather, when he saw that there was a need to get something done, he was more than willing to give his time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of his most prestigious awards included the one bestowed upon him by his family: "The World's Best Husband, Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa."

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Bob used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Bob had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included Wisconsin, where he had a cottage and boat for years, Florida, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. After he retired, he enjoyed visiting his son Bob's vacation home in Wisconsin. He loved getting on the boat and loved the peace of fishing.

Bob was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Bob’s favorites was Sugar, a Highland Terrier. They were best friends for 12 years. His family was rounded out by his parrot, cockatoo, fish, cockatiels and five dogs.

When Bob’s retirement finally arrived in 1991, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. In retirement, he found great pleasure in golf, including regular weekly outings with his brother and a group of buddies. In many ways, Bob loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

All who knew him would agree that Bob was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Robert E. Bedore did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.

Robert E. Bedore, age 78, beloved husband for 58 years of Lorraine, nee Peterson, devoted father of Robert A. (Joan) Bedore, Gary Bedore, Gail Jungels, and Tim Bedore; loving grandfather of Julianne, Elizabeth, Ryan, Sean and Nathan; great grandfather of Haley, Ethan and Gabrielle; Dear brother of Jack (Lois) Bedore and Joyce (John) Kole; fond brother-in-law of Carol (Jack) Coffman and dear uncle of many nieces and nephews. US Navy veteran of the Korean War. Former member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Visitation Wednesday, December 14, 2011 from 3-9 pm at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Ave., Lisle (on Rt. 53, ½ mile south of Ogden Ave. / Rt. 34) where funeral services will begin Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 9:15 am and proceed to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church for Mass at 10:00 am. Interment Assumption Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org. For additional information, call the funeral home at 630-964-9392.