Robert E. Tyner

Yes, as Bob Tyners’ kids, we know we hit the Dad-Lottery. For certain. As his wife Suzy would say whenever Bob would do stuff that took her breath away (sometimes in exasperation, sometimes in elation, but always in a good way): “Ohhh Bob”! He was a remarkably all-around good guy: honest yet diplomatic; deep and multifaceted yet fun-loving and gracious; naturally quick wit yet never personally directed; smart yet everyman practical wisdom; patient and kind yet wilfull and disciplined. You get the idea. Born Robert Edward Tyner on May 15, 1926 in Indianapolis, Indiana, he was the youngest of 3 children. His brother, Earl, was 8 years older than him and his sister Martha, was 4 years older. He grew up in Peru, Indiana and then later, Detroit, Michigan. His interest in math evolved into a need to know How-Things-Worked. He attended the University of Michigan under the US Navy ROTC program graduating with a degree in engineering in 1947 and a commission as an ensign in the US Navy. Leveraging his obsession with How-Things-Worked, his engineering career started at Owens-Illinois in Toledo working on cutting edge TV tube technology. While there, he encountered an overly competent and unforgettably attractive gal named Suzy Smith. She worked for his boss’s boss and they often joked over the years after that, that Suzy made more money than him but she married him anyway! Hah, good call mom – talk about playing the long game…you really hit the husband-lottery (just as we did with the parent-lottery). And Bob? Well, falling in love remained a mystery to him regarding How-It-Worked, BUT, he did know that with Suzy, it would work for a lifetime. And yes, he was right. “Ohhh Bob”! Bob and Suzy married in 1949 and had three children. One of the children was, unbeknownst to anyone at that time in the 1950’s, on the autism spectrum. This served as the single most profound and positive force that would shape their lives. Autism wasn’t even a word at the time and the young parents were adrift without any clues or direction for answers. During this time, Bob’s engineering chops and project work grew which resulted in a steep career path climb. He left O-I to join a consulting engineering firm, being named a partner a few years later in the early 1960’s. He loved his consultant project work, and it took him (and often Suzy) all over the world. It also took him to the top of the engineering know-how and technology world – particularly related to anything involving glass. He worked on the prototype design for the “atom-smasher”, specifically the design of a bubble chamber, which made photos of subatomic particles possible. He was commissioned by the United Nations to assist in Ghana with the conversion of their bottling plants. During the energy crisis in the ‘70’s he was hired to design machinery that would place insulation around natural gas containers on Norwegian tanker ships, to maintain the cargo in liquid form. More recently, design and testing work on the Hummer. The list could go on and on. Among his various awards and memberships, was Toledo Engineer of the Year by the Toledo Technical Society (1975); Ohio Engineer of the Year by the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers (1981); member and/or officer roles in the Rotary Club of Toledo; University of Michigan Alumni Association; Toastmasters Club; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; National and Ohio and Toledo Society of Professional Engineers; Consulting Engineers of Ohio; Toledo Technical Council. In addition to his leadership in professional engineering organizations, Bob was involved in a variety of civic and community organizations focused on mental health and the arts. While he became a twin engine, instrument-certified pilot - initially to serve his clients better and quicker, we’re pretty sure it was motivated by a natural curiosity - again the How-It-Worked obsession, which then evolved into: “hey, this is just so cool, gotta keep at it”. That happened so often on so many different things in his life - not just engineering. “Ohh Bob”! Bob and Suzy’s social life and the stuff they did for fun was even more varied and more impressive than their professional accomplishments. In the late 1960’s, Bob built a TV in his basement workshop. Yes, you read that right. Granted it was a Heathkit (D-I-Y kit) and it took him several months, but he really did build a TV. Color TV, I should clarify. Bob had an artistic side and blew glass pieces for 30 years until he was into his 80’s. It was one of his most enjoyable hobbies. Bob was an excellent bowler. He carried an average of ~190 for several years and once beat Dick Weber in a pro-am tournament. However, he seemed to enjoy the time with his bowling teammates and whatever bowling alley liquid refreshments were available more so than any actual bowling. Bob also loved to golf. In typical engineering fashion, he played a very deliberate, methodical, golf game that emphasized a very solid short game. His golf buddies would always give him grief that he had the slowest backswing ever, but they couldn’t really prove it was the slowest ever, because his backswing started sometime before recorded history. He also had a hole-in-one at Pebble Beach golf course while on vacation with Suzy there in 1982. Bob was a dapper dresser. He always had an understated, subtle classy look and he could recognize a quality outfit. Ok, maybe sometimes not so subtle or understated. Bob and Suzy would get together 3-4 times each year with their “Lobster Group”. It was a group of couples that had their first houses and lived on the same block in Toledo in the 1950’s. The group continued to get together for over 50 years. They had lobsters delivered live in crates from Maine (until they became available in stores later on in the 70’s and 80’s). Of course the neighborhood kids had to see what the big old crates were all about. We have often wondered what happened to that one missing lobster after his daughter, who was about 7 years old at the time, decided lobster races would be a really cool thing to do. Bob and Suzy and 6 other couples had season tickets for University of Michigan football games and they would rent a Winnebago for the games to create a rolling party and “elaborate tailgating” for over 25 years. But one of dad’s most unusual activities, was his fascination with fireworks. I remember him once saying, “yeah, sometimes I just like things that go KABOOM.” He always maintained safety measures, but he did love his fireworks – serving as something of an informal pied piper of fireworks for us kids! Bob was all about the family and for period of 11 straight years (until Suzy had difficulty traveling), rented a beachside set of rooms in La Jolla for all of the kids and their extended families during Father’s Day week in June each year. The cocktail hour and the BBQs on the beach each night were the stuff that made for Tyner family legends. “Ohh Bob”! But Bob’s most rewarding, most challenging, and most educational endeavor – by a wide margin - was working with his child’s autism. Bob truly was Yoda to his autistic child’s Skywalker…understanding and learning while also teaching and being understood. His autistic child would agree with that. Bob said it completely transformed him into a better person, elevating qualities such as patience, tolerance and perspective to extraordinary levels. Over the years, Bob and Suzy became battle hardened veterans and true self-taught experts in their search to find the best resources for their autistic child. They realized there were no set answers, but perhaps just optimal solutions that might change in a blink of an eye. Their burning desire for more info, more resources and more expertise, prompted them to action. They wanted to help those who came after them - to help others fill in the gaps with all the know-how that Bob and Suzy had accumulated over the years. They founded a charitable organization, Avenues for Autism, that supports causes for autism to this day. Ironically, Bob never unlocked How-It-Worked with autism, but he did unlock How-It-Worked for one of his kids, and in doing so, he lifted up thousands coming after him. “Ohh Bob”! Bob Tyner was preceded in death by his wife, Suzanne, sister Martha Montross, and brother, Earl Tyner. He is survived by his children Jeffrey Tyner, Mary Jane (John) Luck, David (Nancy) Tyner, grandchildren, Brian, Danny (Katie), Bobby Tyner, and Katie Suzanne Luck. A memorial Mass will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Gesu Catholic Church. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Avenues for Autism at www.avenuesforautism.org or Avenues For Autism, 2105 Lawrence Ave., Suite 232, Toledo, Ohio 43606. You can view the highlighted story in the Toledo Blade at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/toledoblade/obituary.aspx?n=robert-edward-tyner-bob&pid=198147135