Robert (Bob) L. McGinty

20 Tributes for “Robert (Bob) L. McGinty”

Margaret, I am so sorry to read that Robert has passed away. I know the pain you are feeling as I became a widow on December 10, 2020. Robert passed away on the 31st. Anniversary of when my dad passed away, at the age of 79. May the memories you have of your husband help sustain you during this time and in the coming months. I will keep you and your family in thought and prayer.

There were a few things I had hoped would be included in my dad’s obituary to pay tribute to his legacy but that didn’t happen so I would like to share them now in hopes that many of you will see them. It’s important to me. Bob’s love of animals was very clear with his contribution and fostering of many kittens for years at the Delta County Animal Shelter (along with Kauai as mentioned). He and Margaret even adopted 3 of the kittens they nursed to health. He also was an avid supporter of Players De Noc and so enjoyed the theater. Anyone that knew him would tell you he was the kindest, gentlest, most generous and caring man they’ve ever known. Bob had a wonderful sense of humor and loved pranking anyone he could, especially his closest and dearest friends. With that being said, rest in peace Bobbie. I love you so very much and miss you dearly already. All my love, Amy (the creep)

Bob was a wonderful and caring man. He always was so good to his family and friends. I always enjoyed talking to him especially when we ate Chinese food! I know he will be missed by all who knew him. He made the world a better place. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Janet Lindstrom.

Dear Aim – without BOB, who is “the great creator” I never would’ve been able to call you the bestest buddy ever, Thank God he brought you into the world- and that being said you were truly the “apple of his eye”. I recall briefly knowing you in Harvey, was sad when you moved away, then tapped me on the shoulder back in Marquette again at Bothwell Middle school and the friendship started right where it left off! I was always welcomed to spend summers at the cottage your Dad built in Eastport. Bob had such a knack for getting real estate deals with the best ever beaches. So smart and played the stock market with incredible knack for the right picks, more than any Wall Street Broker… We traveled on the Snow Train to the I-500 In the Soo ( he loved to snowmobile) and the silly giggling teenagers were encouraged by Bob to be silly and he mostly laughed with us, just shook his head and enjoyed the crazy pre teens. He tried tirelessly to get you to wear something other than bib overalls – but gave up and just brought you new ones…. haha- he always made sure you and Michael had a car to drive when teenagers- he was a firm but loving and ultra hilarious dad, ( keeping track of mileage- making sure teenagers were not just just “cruising” around wracking up miles) – but when it came time to collect his mileage fee, all was forgiven and he would just smile and shake his head God how I loved him- always will. Bob gave us work when we were teens, helping him with his homebuilding in Shiras Hills ( worked us hard) but then like a miracle instead of pay he went and bought us tickets to the Foreigner concert that was happening that night. I’m sure he overheard us whining and complaining that we needed to go to that concert but pranked us into thinking we would be too busy working, then turned around at the end of the day and produced two golden tickets… I will never forget how funny he was, how easy going, how generous to all. He was so unpretentious and caring, and left the world a much better place. I love you Bob , RIP Love to all the McGintys-

Being Bob’s “little brother” I would like to share some things about Bob. While his academic and professional accomplishments were impressive, varied and plentiful; perhaps more important is who he was as a person.

We grew up in a small house in a middle class neighborhood in Flint. That house morphed from a proud, cozy home laced with love to a cold building in a run down neighborhood. Bob and I shared a double bed growing up because that house only had two bedrooms. First the garage that had a hoop where we played basketball and Bob did body work on his 1949 Ford, was demolished. Then the house was fortified with bars on the windows before it too, was demolished. The lot sits vacant, but the memories remain firmly entrenched.

Three bales of hay with a target on them stood in front of and against that garage. With dad being so crippled from polio, the only active thing the three of us could share was archery. Dad took us to a sportsman’s club where we shot our bows and we practiced together at home.

Memories.

The house across the street was home to a rough family. The brothers held boxing matches in their back yard they charged admission to and actively picked fights around town. They were not people to mess with. One son became the heavyweight boxing champion in the Marines.

He worked with Bob in that garage on the fine points of boxing. Bob was strong – a trait that never left him. He was able to hold a sledge hammer straight out from his shoulder when he was in his teens. During the boxing instructions, that Marine told Bob to hit him as hard as he could with a right cross to his chin. Bob did and the Marine smiled and said, “Good, Good!” He was a beast at 6’4″ and 240 lbs. And like I said, Bob was strong.

So, it’s easy to picture why Bob was a fighter from a young age. A trait that served him well to the end.

Bob allowed my dad to beat him in a staged arm wrestling contest so that I would be in more awe of my dad when I was at an impressionable age. A classy thing to do.

Bob was classy.

The house on one side housed a teamster enforcer and the one behind us a bookie. Bob rose to prominence from those humble and compromised beginnings.

Bob never forgot from whence he came. Professors can be and often are, a haughty lot. Not Bob. There was nothing pretentious about Dr. McGinty.

Our dad was severely crippled with polio at a young age. A doctor handed him a book and said read this and you will know as much about polio as I do. His legs, no bigger around than my arms, were put in casts and dad brazenly took a hammer and removed them. He was later told had he not done that, he would never have walked at all. So, you can easily see where Bob got his determination from.

You Yoopers understand all about SISU.

Our dad was also a kind, gentle, caring compassionate man – more traits Bob inherited. A childhood friend of mine that lived by us remarked a few years ago, he could not remember my dad ever being angry – I’m certain I gave him more cause for that than Bob!

Our mother was razor sharp (yet another trait Bob inherited) and she loved us dearly. Both of our parents lived their lives for us.

During our teens, we both spent a good portion of our summers working on relative’s farms in the straits area. There, we learned the value and meaning of hard work. If you have spent a day in the hot sun throwing bales of hay on a big trailer behind a tractor, you know what I’m talking about.

More ingrained traits that made Bob who he was.

Bob worked at a grocery store during his high school years. He was offered a management position there, but had his sights set much higher. The doctor (who had no children) that delivered Bob and I offered to foot the bill for Bob all the way through medical school. However, math was Bob’s thing and that goal was not to be denied nor deterred.

We worked together over the years building houses. On one project, the owner cut out a 2×6, with notches, wrote phrases Bob and I used and named it, “McGinty Brothers Carpentry.” Bob learned carpentry from friends that were skilled carpenters and became a highly skilled carpenter himself, building many houses.

Bob built minds and houses.

It doesn’t seem possible Bob could be gone. I will surely struggle for the rest of my days with not having a big brother as I will with not being able to reminisce with Bob. Thank God, we made a point of and were able to do that on a regular basis these last two years. One of the last things I told him was, “Thank You for being my big brother.”

So, Bob is gone now. Another thing (there are many) I will miss is hearing “Ronnie!” when he answered my call. Bob was the only person to call me Ronnie – as I am called Ron by others. I’m so glad Amy Cooper – our lovely, nice, niece that was always there for her dad, adored him, devoted her life to him and did all she could to make the end of his journey as comfortable and dignified as possible; heard “Ronnie!” the last TIME he said it on his birthday in January. She knew the significance of it and enjoyed hearing it as much as I did.

I, for years, have capitalized TIME – taking the spelling of Time one step further from that of one of the finest writers this country ever produced, George Bird Evans. GBE began putting T in caps when he realized how precious TIME is.

You see, very few Bob’s come along as they don’t make ’em like Bob very often so when they do, they are cherished.

Bob was cherished by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

I only wish Bob could have been granted more TIME. God Bless You, Big Brother…

Woke this morning thinking of Bob. Decided to find his address in Hawaii and send him a note. Instead, I found his obituary. Made me very sad. He was one of my favorite teachers at DMHS; he tried his best to teach me math. I went to Western Michigan Uni in 1965 and Bob and his family followed me and lived in married housing, right outside of my dorm. I babysat often for Mike and Amy. In fact, one night, Bob and his wife got home after 10:00 pm and he had to help me climb through a window in my dorm so I didn’t get thrown out of school. I can still hear him laughing. The following year, my boyfriend, Jim, left for Northern Michigan Uni, and Bob and his family joined him there. I made many trips from Kalamazoo to Marquette and always stayed with Bob and Gayle. Mike and Amy were in my wedding in 1968…Amy was probably too young to remember. I will always remember him with so much respect and love. I’m sure his family will miss him tremendously.

I am sorry to hear of the passing of Bob. He was always so kind and would give a smile freely. He will missed by the staff of Lakeview! Peace to the whole McGinty Family…

Kind, loving, caring and very generous are the qualities that Bob expressed over many years of family relationship. Jim and I loved him dearly.

Bob was one of the kindest and most unassuming people that I knew. No pretensions just a kindness. Rest in peace Bob.

I knew Bob only though his brother, Ron, and we met for the first TIME in the family grocery store. As I recall, Bob often helped his parents by tending the store and allowing them some much needed time off and away.
Bob was a man you liked instantly and felt an immediate bond with while sensing he would have quoted Will Roger’s, “I never met a man I didn’t like!”
The outpouring of tributes is justly deserved.
Jerry Ware

I am saddened to hear of Bob McGinty’s death. He was my math teacher for all four years at DMHS, and one of my favorites. Though I worked hard to memorize all of the essential formulas, I never got “it”. Still, he made trying to learn fun. And who could forget the Turkey Trot costume award our Special Math class won for the Volks-Turkey. I will always be grateful to him for insisting that I go to college, and it made all the difference in my life. I had the chance to tell him that at our 25th reunion, and was disappointed that he did not attend the 50th.

Dear Margaret,
We at NTBG are so very sorry for your loss. It was lovely to read the tributes to Bob. May his memory always be a blessing in your life.

Bob was one of the sweetest people you would ever meet, he always had a kind word and a smile on his face. You will be sorely missed. Margaret my thoughts are with you and your family.

Mr. McGinty helped me so much in my algebra class at NMU. He gave me extra help and helped me to understand the content. I am grateful. All the hard work paid off and I got an A in math!

I am another DMHS grad who was in Mr. McGinty’s “special math” class. He did a great job teaching and putting up with our antics (bringing in electric griddles and cooking pancakes…).
I think we all learned something.
Sending condolences to the family

Bob was one of the best people I met at NMU. I hope the many happy memories ease the family through your grief. My sincere condolences.

“Oh Rob”, the first thought that came to mind when I heard of y your passing. It was as clear as the days back in junior high and HS when Amy would be saying that expression to either a jest sent her way from Bob or when we may have been trying to talk him into something. I was fortunate to get to know him and the family beginning my junior high years. He had a quiet, subtle wit about him. You really had to be on you’re “A” game when at the dinner table at the McGinty’s. Lots of quick wit and banter, check the gullable at the door and be ready . I remember him being so kind, always had a smile and quiet chuckle about something for you. He was unassuming, non judging, loving and supportive. He would give us (you were always considered a kid in the family if you there hanging with one of the kids) much leeway to be a kid and explore, experiment, grow and yes sometimes mess up – but you always knew Rob was there if you were in need. Hmmm maybe a little less freedom in the Bahamas would have been advised, nahhhh it was all good, we were angels – smile. He loved his family, especially his kids. I remember how he was pained to see Amy in pain monthly with female issues. He would try so hard to understand and be supportive. I think it was then that I began trying to talk Rob into adopting me, and hounding Amy to get him to adopt me. Lol, little does Aim know, he did adopt me, yup I’m your sister, sista. I have the papers somewhere I’m sure in my house. Even without the papers, I knew I was his adopted daughter, in his heart, where it counts! At least that is the way he made me feel when with you all, like a part of the family. Rob was a gift to all who had the privilege of knowing him. I loved him dearly. Thankfully he created 2 more gifts to carry on his being, Mike and Amy. Your dad lives on in you and the grands, and thru the love he had for Margaret, Brendan and Kira.
Margaret, Mike, Amy, Brendan, Kierra and all the family and friends, I am sorry for your loss. Rob was a priceless gem, i can’t imagine how much you are missing him.
So in closing, “Oh Rob”, thank you for your light in this world.

Dear Margaret and all of Bob’s family: I had the pleasure of knowing Bob through Margaret and NMU. He was always so kind, helpful, and supportive. He came to Soo Hill School when I was teaching there to update us on Math practices. Everyone felt his warm personality and knowledge of his field. He loved teaching all types of Math. I am so very sorry for your loss and I hope you know how grateful I am to have known Bob (and you, Margaret). Margaret was one of my first friends when I moved to Escanaba and made me feel welcome in a new city. God’s blessing on Bob’s soul and on your whole family.
Sincerely, Karin Beveridge and husband, Michael

My sincere condolences to the entire family. Dr. McGinty was my math professor at NMU. I’m going to tell you flat out, he was my best instructor at NMU throughout my BA and MA programs, no question. A consummate professional with an analytical, paced and well thought out delivery style he made my adjustment back to civilian life an easy transition after my U. S. Army service. I am very sorry for your loss. I had a lot of respect for him. His loves for cats was a bonus. Respectfully submitted, Paul Kitti, CDR, USN, Retired

We were not close but we truly enjoyed our time with both of you. Love and prayers.