Obituary of Robert Glenn Powell
ROCHESTER - March 12, 2018 at 62. Survived by his longtime companion, Christine Antoniak; parents, Glenn (Gladys) of Livonia, MI and Patricia of Deckerville, MI; sisters, Yvonne Bayne of Rochester, NY and Julie Powell of Rochester, MN; brother, Randy (Mary) of Franklin, MA.; nephews, Justin and Stephen; niece, Meredith; and his dear kitty, Precious.
There will be no Visitation or Service. Donations can be made in his memory to the American Heart Association or the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. www.baseballhall.org/support-the-hall (Ty Cobb Glove Conservation Project).
Robert Glenn Powell
February 27, 1956 - March 12, 2018
Born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, second child and first son of Glenn and Patricia Ann (Springborn)Powell. He joined big sister, Yvonne and was later joined by brother, Randy and sister, Julie.
His interest in baseball started at an early age thanks to the influence of his dad and the older generation of the family. Summer weekends were spent within earshot of radio and television broadcasts of Detroit Tigers games. The family also attended many slo-pitch and little league games in which one of the family members were participating.
Summers were made even more special for the four Powell children by frequent visits to Grandma and Grandpa Springborn's cottage on the St. Clair River in St. Clair, Michigan. Summer afternoons were spent swimming, fishing and playing in the sand.
Bob was a quiet boy who enjoyed reading, drawing cartoons and memorizing sports facts.
As a teen, he was able to accompany the family to Bangkok, Thailand where his father was stationed with the U.S. Department of State. While he was there, he was able to get a job as an extra in the James Bond film "Man With the Golden Gun," starring Roger Moore. The shooting took about a week, and he enjoyed the experience very much.
Eventually, after living in Virginia and returning to Michigan, he decided to move to Rochester, NY where his older sister already resided. It was in Rochester that he met his lifelong love and companion, Christine. They spent 26 years together, sharing a mutual love of reading, travel, opera, theater and the arts.
Bob also shared his life with many beloved feline companions, most recently the cats he shared with Chris: Toffee and especially, Sophie, his boon companion, both of whom passed within the past two years, and Precious, their most recent rescue cat.
He was a lifelong baseball fan, with his favorite team, the Detroit Tigers. He was fortunate enough to be able to attend games, both at Tiger Stadium, where he was able to see many of the great players of the 1960s, and Comerica Park. He also regularly attended Rochester Red Wings games and often visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Bob loved to travel, and he and Chris made frequent visits to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario for the Shaw Festival, and Stratford, Ontario to attend the Stratford
Shakespeare Festival. They were able to go on Bob's dream trip to England in 2002, and also visited the U.S. Virgin Islands because he loved the beach and wanted to visit the tropics.
Bob stayed fit and active by swimming, going to the gym and taking long walks around the Neighborhood of the Arts, the North Winton Neighborhood and along the Erie Canal. He loved being on and around the water.
He leaves behind his loving companion, Chris, his mother, Patricia, father Glenn and step-mother Gladys, sisters Yvonne and Julie, brother Randy and sister-in-law Mary, nephews Justin and Stephen, niece Meredith, several cousins and extended family and friends scattered throughout the country and the world.
To honor his legacy, donations to The American Heart Association and/or The National Baseball Hall of Fame (Ty Cobb Glove Conservation Project link: Ty Cobb's Glove) would be greatly appreciated.
Bob was a great example of a life well lived. He will be missed by all who knew him, and will always be remembered with much love.
