Robert Michael Reymers, age 73, passed away December 18, 2018. He was born in Manhattan, NY to Howard and Thelma (Mends) Reymers. Joined 2 years later by sister, Roz, the family moved to Port Washington, Long Island. He lived in NY and CA before graduating NY’s Huntington HS and entering Brown University in 1963, where he was a proud Sigma Chi.
Graduating with a Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Bob joined Westinghouse Nuclear, then EDS Nuclear, which launched a distinguished 45-year career with the company as Impell, Combustion Engineering, and finally ABB. Bob loved working in sales and marketing, especially as Senior Business Development Manager with great teams and clients. He loved his work, his colleagues that became friends, and winning big jobs. Bob was respected by customers and colleagues alike. His stories of circuit breakers and substations weren’t fully understood by some of us, but his passion for his work was undeniable.
Bob loved sports and had fun competing. Playing baseball at a young age, he was nicknamed Whitey after Whitey Ford. He played Rugby at Brown, and a broken collarbone later, switched to tennis, which he enjoyed until falling ill two years ago. He loved rooting (loudly) for Brown, the SF Giants, and the Steelers. Music was also his lifelong passion, as a rock guitarist, jazz enthusiast, and singer with his local Doo Wop Club. Finding long-lost relatives in England and Germany was important to Bob, and enriched and extended his family. Especially close were cousin Rabs and wife, Hazel; “Tante Tea” and cousin Benjamin.
Bob loved his family wholeheartedly. His wife, Nancy Suriani, brightened his life, loving him through good times and bad. Daughters Kera Bagwell and Vanessa De la Piedra were his pride and joy, and he welcomed sons-in-law Bill and Jerry with open arms. He treasured being “Papa” to granddaughter Emma Kechter, and “Grandpa Bob” to Gabriella and Matthew Suriani. Bob adored Nancy’s son, Rich Suriani, and wife, Stephanie, and was devoted and loving to sister Roz Reymers and brother-in-law Ken Lucero.
Bob approached even the toughest of times with a smile, a wry sense of humor, and positive attitude. Where others would have lost hope, he said he was the luckiest man in the world. He will be remembered, missed, and loved forever by all who knew him.
Visitation will be 2-4pm followed by funeral services and a celebration of life on December 21st, 2018 at the Apex Funeral Home at 550 W Williams St, Apex, NC 27502 (919-362-8233). Please consider donating in Bob’s name to the Duke Cancer Institute (dukecancerinstitute.org, Specify Adult Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic), 710 W Main St, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701.
Condolences may be sent to ApexFuneral.net
