Deceased March 12, 2012
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In Memory
A telephone call from Bob Hough’s son Chris conveyed the news concerning his father’s death in March. The catalyst for this event was Lou Gehrig’s disease, from which Bob suffered for seven years after diagnosis. During this period we spoke regularly via telephone (he despised computer correspondence), even though Bob lost most of his speech fairly early during his confinement.
Bob was born in California and spent his youth in Great Britain and Akron, Ohio, where his father (a member of Amherst’s Class of 1914) was a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. executive. Bob graduated from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio.
Bob and yours truly enjoyed a lifelong palship. We roomed together at Chi Phi after three years in military service during World War II. The only thing that ever caused an argument between us was my sly use of his electric razor.
My old suitemate spent his business career in sales and marketing for Goodyear (mostly in Akron) until he retired in 1983.
Bob married an All-American class act, Priscilla Plumb, a union which engendered the world with three fine progeny. After 24 years of marriage, Priscilla passed away, and years later, Bob married another wonderful lady, Lois.She also died after 24 years of marriage, after which Bob visited Susie and me in Kansas City. To say he was feeling rotten is the understatement of the age. As we lunched at my golf club, Bob, with a forlorn expression, asked: “Woody, what the heck can I do about this ‘grim reaper’ guy who has really loused up my life?!” I replied with tongue in cheek: “Make certain the prospective bride has a stem to stern, damned thorough ‘physical’ from the finest doctor in America before you repeat waltzing down the aisle!” Unfortunately, ol’ Robert never waltzed again!
The Class of 1946 sends condolences to the Hough family. Woody Steinwart will never stop missing Bob Hough if Woody lives a jillion more years!
Woody Steinwart ’46