Robert Alexander Obituary

Bob Alexander was a powerful positive influence on thousands of students, athletes, teachers, and coaches at the schools fortunate enough to have him on the faculty. I first worked with Bob at Gerard in 1976, and learned so much about coaching and organizing a track and field team from him. When he moved to Mingus in 1978, he and I were competitors, but he still was encouraging and instructive. When he and John O'Donnell encouraged me to join the Mingus staff in 1980, I felt like I won the lottery. Bob and Joni took me back under their wings, helped me move, participated in my wedding to Becky, helped us move, was a godfather to our son Todd, helped us move, and basically was willing to help us no matter what, when or where. The amazing thing is, he was that same way for literally hundreds of people throughout his life. Where did he get the time and energy?
To me, the most fitting tribute to Bob came long ago, in a Gerard booster club meeting in 1977, when they were trying to come up with ways that Gerard could be even more successful. One of the boosters stood up and said, "It's not rocket science, people. If you want to have a stronger staff, just hire more people like Bob Alexander." Amen, brother.
Now rest in God's perfect peace, Bob. You have earned it.

I have had a hard time expressing how important Alex was to me and so many others during our time at Mingus. He was a leader, a coach, a teacher, mentor, friend and more. He was amazing! Before I left Mingus, I drew a tiny island on his world map in his classroom so a little part of me would be there too! Alex always encouraged us to be ourselves, and go out into the world and be what we wanted to be. When I became a teacher, I just tried to be a little like Alex for my students.
Alex was one of my hero´s!

Alex was more than an excellent teacher to any single student or year. Before and beyond my years, his life, zeal and unwavering commitment to so many of us, gifted us believing in ourselves, supporting each other, celebrating life´s adventures, being engaged in school and leadership and so much more. I am who I am today, at least many of my good parts, due to Alex and Joni. When I had no home or family stability, they gave me a place to live and shared a hope for my future. They gifted me shoes for track, called me out when I partied too much and challenged me to success despite any barrier. They lived their love for each other and it overflowed to so many of his students. Thank you Alex. May our lives reflect a bit of your goodness, light, charisma, adventure and dedication to others.
Thank you Joni for all the decades you shared your home, life and love with all of us. Thank you for being such a good sport the hundreds of times your house was toilet papered. May you know Alex´s life and legacy endures within and among so many he impacted.
Thank you both - beyond adequate words.

Our three sons attended Mingus and played football under Alex's influence.
Your impact on their lives will live forever. Thank you for helping our sons grow into the fine men they are. There will always be a special part of you living in our hearts.

Thank you coach for all the time, energy, effort and love you put in to all those years of shaping boys into men. You use football to teach life lessons to all of us players that had the honor of being on your teams at Mingus. Your lessons and legacy live on today in all of us! You will be missed, but never forgotten!

The first time I had Mr Alexander "Alex", as my teacher was the year my dad died tragically. I remember sitting across from him at his desk, telling him and his kindness and mentorship were immediate and constant thereafter (including hand-written reference letters which I just ran across last year).

I don´t know why I decided to tell him about my dad and don´t remember telling any other teachers about it. Thinking back on this memory over the past couple of days from the perspective of a person who now spends time in classrooms, I think how jarring it must have been for him - a student he barely knew choosing to share something so tragic with no warning. How uncomfortable and awkward. But he didn´t make it either of those things. He just asked me about my dad and made meaningful conversation. Yes, the same short-fused Alex who shouted and jumped through lessons on The Crusades and football games and all the leadership shenanigans.

The years that followed brought lots of adventures, laughter, learning and teaching. I´m grateful for the time I had with Mr Alexander and for his perennial gap-toothed smile (runs in my family) and most of all for his kindness from the beginning.

I have nothing but good memories about you Bob. Especially when you chased me around the outside of your home, threatening to tackle me if I didn't make it all the way around before you got to me. I didn't know I could run so fast :)
Or how about coming off the farm and we still had the mindset that we had to save on water so I was the third one in the bathtub after you and Richard :I
You'll be missed Bob but I'm glad to know that you prepared your heart with the Lord and I appreciated that you let me in on some of it. I love you Bob and we love you Joni, Jolie, and Kelley.