Obituary of Robert Ewald

Robert James Ewald, formerly of Findlay, Ohio, passed away on March 14, 2014. Bob was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 5, 1929 and was adopted by the late Alfred and Helen Rice Ewald. He graduated from Bloomdale High School in 1945 and served in the Navy from 1946 to 1948. Bob married Donna Marie Droll on May 8, 1954, and they lived in Fostoria, Ohio from 1954 to 1964 and in Findlay, Ohio from 1964 until they relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio in July 2013. Bob's undergraduate education began at the University of Toledo in 1954 and ended when he received a BS in mathematics from Findlay College in 1967. He went on to get an MA before earning a PhD in English at Bowling Green State University in 1977. Bob held several positions, including head of data processing, at Cooper Tire and Rubber Company between 1957 and 1972. He then became an English faculty member and administrator at Findlay College, where he remained for a total of 30 years (23 years pre- and seven years post-retirement). Bob was passionate about words and language, and he inspired his students to be life-long learners as he was himself. Professionally, Bob was a leader of the Science Fiction Research Association and the author of the scholarly book The Pastoral Science Fiction of Clifford Simak. Bob was an active member of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church where he sang in the choir and served as a cantor, a communion distributor, and part of the hospital visitation team. He also was a member of Beacon Club and of the Probability Seminar (a poker club). He loved to read, do crossword puzzles (especially from the Sunday New York Times), and listen to music. He enjoyed opera and other forms of the performing arts, as well as traveling, but, most of all, being with his family. Bob is survived by Donna, his wife of almost sixty years, and by six children: Karen (and husband Tom Long) of Milford, Ohio; John (and friend Mary) of Cranberry Twp., PA; Teresa of Needham, MA; James (and wife Stella) of Charlotte, NC/Alexandria, VA; Patricia (and husband Tom Barbeau) of Terrace Park, Ohio; and Stephen (and wife Pamela) of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren: Jordan Ewald, Eryn (Josh) Cain, Emily Long, Kyle (Lindsay) Ewald, Daniel Barbeau, Chelsey (Corey) Newton, Becca Long, Courtney Nelson, Jack Barbeau, Katie Ewald, Ava and Gannon Barbeau, Miles and Charlotte Ewald; and six great-grandchildren: Hudson and Grecyn Cain, Cayleb and Kaelyn Newton, and Tucker and Sawyer Ewald. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Dr. Robert J. Ewald to St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Findlay, Ohio or to the University of Findlay. Bob was cremated, according to his wishes. A memorial mass and reception were held on March 22 for close family and new friends at The Barrington of Oakley in Cincinnati. At a later date, a Mass of Celebration of Bob's Life will be held at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, with a reception at the University of Findlay.