Robert S. Gyenge

Robert “Bob” Stephen Gyenge, age 68, passed away at Methodist Hospital on Thursday, the 22nd of April 2021, after a short and courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was born on the 26th of January 1953, in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of Rudolph Albert Gyenge and Marguerite Busch Gyenge.

He attended St. Anthony High School in Trenton, New Jersey, where he excelled in both academics and a wide variety of sports. He then went on to attend Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. During his four years at Hamilton, he was a proud member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity with many of his fraternity brothers remaining close and dear friends to this day. After college, Bob entered the bank training program at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company in New York City, spent four years in Malaysia as country manager, over a decade in the Sovereign Debt Restructuring Group where he led and contributed to successful deals for the Kingdom of Jordan, Brazil, and many other countries; he then retired after twenty-five years from its successor bank JP Morgan Chase. Bob was an avid golfer, fly fisherman, sports enthusiast, and dog lover. He had a photographic memory for all types of sports statistics and history. He was a life-long, die-hard New York Yankee fan. His other favorite team was the Dallas Cowboys which was difficult to accept by his friends and family in both New York and Houston.

Once retired, Bob spent nearly ten years coaching Sydney’s soccer, basketball, softball, and volleyball teams as part of the St. Francis Sports Association. Bob felt true joy when seeing these young female athletes gain confidence and a sense of empowerment while on the playing fields and basketball and volleyball courts. He also volunteered for multiple St. Francis Episcopal School events and supported Sydney in all of her in-school and after-school activities.

Predeceased by his parents, whom he lost far too soon, and his brother Rudolph “Rudy” A. Gyenge, Jr., he is survived by his devoted partner Charlotte L. Bentlif with whom he spent 25 fun filled years, his beloved daughter Sydney, his sister Kathryn Swayze, his six nieces, Jennifer, Kristen, Katie, Wendy, Mary, and Adelaide, nephew Stephen, and his sisters-in-law, Erin, Georgia, and Alexandra.

The family express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Sai Pingali, Dr. Shilpan Shah, Dr. Jasleen Randhawa and Dr. Sachin Patel and the team of wonderful doctors, nurses, and staff at Houston Methodist Hospital Cancer Center and Walter Tower 14. Their compassion, humor, deep knowledge, and medical expertise were second to none. We especially appreciate the comfort they gave Bob when we were unable to visit him in the hospital due to COVID restrictions.

A celebration of life will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 26th of May, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Hamilton College.