Robert Frank Zelsman

1925-2022

Robert Frank (Bob) Zelsman passed away peacefully at home on January 20, 2022 at the age of 96. He was born on February 7, 1925 in Whittier, California to Mary Sue Catterton Zelsman and Robert Lee Zelsman. The oldest of three, Bob grew up in Amarillo, Texas with his brother Bill and sister Mary Louise.

Bob attended Amarillo High School where he excelled in academics and athletics. He was the starting guard for the 1940 State Champion Amarillo Sandies and member of the National Honor Society. After graduating from Amarillo High in 1943, Bob enrolled in the Navy V-12 officers training program at Rice Institute. Throughout his life, Bob lived by Rice’s Standards of being accountable, competing at all times, always expecting to win, and doing the right thing. Among his many accomplishments at Rice, Bob was the President of the Student Body, Captain of the Rice football team and highest ranking Naval Officer of Battalion Commander. Under the leadership of Coach Jess Nealy, the Rice Owl’s football team competed regularly for the Southwest Conference Championship, earning the co-championship in 1946. One defining moment in Bob’s football career was making what many thought was the game saving tackle against The University of Texas in 1946 enabling Rice to be victorious 7-6 over the Longhorns. News accounts stated Bobby Zelsman hit the Texas quarterback “like a ton of bricks” on a last minute fourth and one play from the Rice four yard line, killing UT’s last chance to win the game. It was at Rice where Bob met his wife Catherine Fordtran Thompson, who he referred to as his sweetie. Bob and Catherine were married on July 23, 1946 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston. Bob received his Naval commission in late 1946 and was deployed on a ship near the end of World War II. He returned to Rice to earn his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree in 1947.

Bob and Catherine began their married life in Amarillo where he started his professional engineering career. Their first child was born in 1950 and not long thereafter, Bob was recalled by the Navy to serve in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. Bob and Catherine had three more girls, each of which they expected to be a boy named Robert, until they were born. While living in Amarillo, Bob obtained his pilot’s license and flew for company business in his Bonanza. There were also family flights to visit relatives living in Houston, Dallas and Memphis, Tennessee. Bob picked up the game of golf and played every Saturday morning. This became a lifelong passion of Bob’s along with deep sea and fly fishing, tennis, hunting and travel.

Opportunities arose for Bob to advance his career and he and his family moved in 1968 to Austin, Texas where he joined what became O’Connell, Probst, and Zelsman (OPZ). He became the President of OPZ where he worked until 1980. Bob was recruited to join PageSoutherlandPage (PSP, now known as Page) where he became a Partner and the Coordinator of Engineering Services. In this role, he was directly involved in the design and construction of all the firm’s projects. He was recognized as an excellent engineer, having a keen eye for talent and a developer of people. Bob’s specialty was in the design and construction of hospitals and high technology centers. Some of the more significant projects on which he worked included Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the Austin Convention Center, Seton and Brackenridge Hospitals in Austin, Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, and Motorola’s and Abbott Laboratories’ facilities in Austin. He also traveled overseas extensively to support his firm’s projects including a hospital for the US Air Force in Aviano, Italy and numerous trips to Saudi Arabia. It was here that he worked on hospital and healthcare facility projects for Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, Al Hasa, Ras Tanura, and Jubail among other cities in the Kingdom. After a 50 year career as a professional engineer, Bob retired from PSP in 2000 at the age of 74, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

Affectionately known as Papa, he gave his girls guidance but always encouraged them to pursue their dreams and ambitions. He instilled the values and work ethic he embodied in them. Papa was a caretaker of those in need, from his family to his precious Westie Katy. Bob and Catherine’s girls each married men who, in many respects, have the qualities they most admired in their father. He built deep and meaningful relationships with his sons-in-law, treating each of them as his own son. He was blessed with seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Papa and Gigi (Catherine) were extremely involved in all their grandchildren’s activities. They attended countless football, basketball, volleyball, field hockey and soccer games, grandparent’s events, high school and college graduations, and the births of many of their great grandchildren.

There are many skills Bob will affectionately be remembered for, none more so than his bartending abilities. His scotch old fashioned and tequila sour cocktails are infamous, and as he often said, “that tequila sour is not lemonade you know.” He was the consummate griller whose steaks were always perfect. Bob and Catherine loved to travel and visited countries around the world. They traveled with family and friends and created many wonderful memories on those trips. They had so many friends from each of the cities in which they lived, and clubs to which they belonged. Bob greatly enjoyed his regular golf games. His skills remained very sharp as he was able to shoot his age through his late 80’s. He had weekly tennis games and being ambidextrous, he could always hit a forehand if he chose to do so. Fly fishing was his real passion. His favorite spot was on the Rio Grande River outside of Creede, Colorado at a place owned by family members, one of which was a Doolittle Raider. Bob had annual fishing trips with many of the “Raiders” including Jimmy Doolittle himself. He was honored to have known these American heroes. Bob was a very close friend and confidant. He was deeply respected and valued for his advice and counsel. He was a very proud man but remained humble.

Bob was a man of deep faith. He served on the Vestry and was the Senior Warden at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Amarillo. He was a very active member of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Austin for almost sixty years where he was on the Vestry and twice served as Senior Warden. The family expresses heartfelt thanks to The Very Reverend Cynthia Briggs Kittredge for her friendship and the spiritual counsel she provided to Bob, Catherine, and their children.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of over 70 years, his daughter Catherine Mayo Zelsman, his brother William Charles Zelsman, and his sister Mary Louise Wilburn. He is survived by his daughter Mary Zelsman Winsett and her husband Owen Winsett, his daughter Anne Zelsman Coskey and her husband Jay Coskey, and his daughter Martha Zelsman Carnes and her husband Mark Carnes. He is also survived by his grandchildren Robert Ewing Winsett (Nikki), Annie Winsett Novacek (Matt), William Owen Winsett (Kenyon), Frank Thompson Winsett (Kate), Julia Coskey Cole (Andrew), Andrew Zelsman Coskey (Patricia), and Hannah Moran Carnes, and his great grandchildren Roy Robert Winsett, Merrill Grice Winsett, Gloria Catherine Winsett, Benjamin Owen Winsett, William Robert Cole, Catherine Clara Cole, Elizabeth Lyle Coskey, and Lee Anderson Coskey. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Mary Louise Kuhlmann and many devoted nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 1 p.m. Afterwards, the family will greet those in attendance at the church followed by a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in his name be directed to The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd or the Seminary of the Southwest.