Robin "Rob" Frank Risser

Robin Frank “Rob” Risser left this world April 16, 2017, at age 66, after a brave battle with cancer. He grew up in Dayton Ohio and was a graduate of Belmont High School in 1969. As a youth, he was an outstanding student and athlete lettering in several sports.

He graduated from Mount Union College, where he played college basketball as a member of the “Raiders”. Later he went on to earn his MBA from the University of Michigan. He so loved the university town of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan that he spent his entire adult life thereafter living and working in the community. He began his professional life with Bendix Corporation and quickly rose to an executive position but then broke away to start his own businesses. Over his life, he has been a CPA accountant, a registered stockbroker, a real estate developer, and an entrepreneur and executive involved in high tech industries. He was a co-founder and the guiding force of Picometrix, a company that develops and manufactures high-speed optical receivers for use in optical communication networks and ultra-high-speed microwave imaging instrumentation for non-invasive inspection of systems like the NASA Space Shuttle. Picometrix is now a subsidiary of Luna Corporation.

In the 1990’s, Robin sat on the Board of Mount Union College and worked to get high tech networks installed into the new dorms being constructed. Rob’s business dealings took him all around the world for many years. He relished his company and its hard-working loyal employees. For those whose lives were devoted to the business, Rob’s ultimate professional concern was to retire and leave a business legacy that would not only endure, but also succeed. Rob was a “Go Getter” in business, yet always put those he loved above all else, making sure to truly “be there” for them when he was needed.

Rob cared about and took a genuine interest in people and treated everyone with kindness and respect. He would selflessly act in ways to help others without ever expecting anything in return. Rob could banter with anyone, gifted for finding common ground to strike up a conversation. He was a brilliant person with an unbelievable near “photographic” memory. Known for his intense curiosity, Rob never stopped learning and loved knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Among things for which Rob discovered passion was fine art, music, sports, travel, skiing, basketball, football and competitive games of any sort. Most of all he loved to spend time with family, friends and all those he held precious. With his bright eyes and even brighter smile, he reveled in laughing with and teasing others, especially his bride Sally.

Rob is survived by his wife, Sally Ann Risser; his son, Logan Burk Risser; brother Daniel Thomas (Lynn) Risser; niece, Tara Ashley (Steve) Risser-Ulm; nephew, Douglas Daniel (Michelle) Risser. To Sally’s children, Michael (Nikoly Santana) Street, David (Carrie) Street, Dana Street and the grandchildren Kyle, Maddie and Ben, to whom he was lovingly known as “Papa Rob”. His parents Thomas W. and Eileen G. Risser and his first wife Cheryl Ann Risser, preceded him in death.

The funeral service will be at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 South Fourth Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. Friends may visit Friday from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday from Noon until the time of service at 4:00 p.m.

Memorial donations in memory of Robin F. Risser may be made to: Rackham Impact Fund – 364240 Gifts in this area support the academic scholarship, research, and creative work of Rackham graduate students at the master's or doctoral level and help them prepare for careers of quality and impact.

The University of Michigan Office of University Development, 3003 South State Street, Suite 9000, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1288 | 1-888-518-7888

https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/

Please share a memory of Rob with his family at his online guestbook.