Dr. Robert Brennan Blackwell, 82, of Bowling Green, Ohio passed away September 27, 2019. He was born March 24, 1937 in Detroit Michigan to Raymond and Ruth (Breastman) Blackwell. He married Mary L. Herpolsheimer in 1957 and she preceded him in death September 16, 2019.
Robert’s academic career included full professor at Bowling Green State University, where he was awarded University Teacher of the year in 1987. He worked to secure millions of dollars in local, state and federal grants, served on over thirty committees at the university, state and federal levels including Department Chairperson and Faculty Senator for ten years as well as wrote many published articles and four textbooks.
Robert’s athletic career included coach youth hockey for fourteen years, little league baseball for five years and was the city volleyball champion for eight years along with the city softball champion for eight years. Robert was also a member of the Toledo Metro Golf Association.- winning thirteen tournaments and was named Player of the Year in 2001 as well as a Letter Winner at Michigan University.
Dr. Blackwell trained many students at Wood Lane School and Workshops and consulted with special needs students at Granger Group Home for 26 years. Robert was a member on the Council for Exceptional Children for 35 years. He was a recipient of the Kennedy Scholarship for Graduate Studies in 1967 and was proud to have traveled the country being past of educating and certifying hundreds of teachers to teach handicapped individuals. He was involved in the first Special Olympics as well as serving as the first director of Special Olympics track and field and state basketball tournament.
Dr. Blackwell was a certified financial planner, as a graduate of the College of Financial Planning in Denver, CO. as well as an award-winning artist, a pilot, a scuba diver and avid Detroit and Michigan sports fan and beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Bob is survived by his daughters Lynn (John) Deep of Albany, New York and Jill (Dan) Peters of Astoria, Oregon. He is also survived by her grandchildren Madeline, Joe, Matthew, Chloe, Lindsey, Olivia and Lillian and great-grandchildren Rory, Sawyer, River, Zoe, Ryan and Jason.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary and son Robert Blackwell Jr.
Services for Bob will be private for the family with burial taking place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bowling Green. Arrangements have been entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home in Bowling Green.
In lieu of flowers, please celebrate his life over a cup of coffee and a donut with a loved one.
To share an online condolence or fond memory with the family please visit www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
