Robert Emmet Gaynor

Robert Emmet Gaynor was born October 22, 1924, the oldest of four children. He grew up in the 1920’s in Cicero, a small section of downtown Chicago, Illinois. He came from a hard-working family of electricians. He lived his early years through the Great Depression and at age 19, he served his country in WWII as a Flight Officer and Navigator in the Army Air Corp. He married Audrey Louise Albright just before shipping out where he navigated a B-24 aircraft in the Pacific Theater.

Robert was the first of his family to graduate college earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. After college, he began his career, and the young married couple started their family. At a pivotal point in the 1960’s, he was given an exciting opportunity to relocate from Chicago. He and Audrey vetoed Switzerland due to their desire to be closer to family; and instead, they moved their six children to the balmy, booming city of Houston, Texas where many decedents still live to this day.

Throughout his military and professional life, Robert demonstrated the unique ability to understand new concepts quickly and in great detail. His strong visual-spatial intelligence allowed him to excel in areas such as navigation and engineering. Those aptitudes, coupled with his gregarious and entertaining nature, contributed to his success.

Making use of his ability to explain complex systems, he presented technical papers and participated in panel discussions at national conventions as an active member of the National Petroleum Refiner’s Association. His dedication to hard work for over 40 years culminated in his role as the Universal Oil Products Director of Sales of the entire Southern US, the Gulf Coast region and the Caribbean.

But Robert wasn’t solely focused on his work. He had a strong sense of responsibility for family and others. Robert valued spending time with his sons and daughters, and throughout the years, took the family on countless beach and lake-side camping trips throughout Texas, Florida and the south. Camping traditions are still present today, passed down four generations. He was also an avid golfer, and it was one of his favorite past times with his grown children. Family weekends were often spent with golf, watching sports and delicious meals.

Robert was deeply generous. Family always knew he would have their backs and help them out in times of need. Even if he had just hosted you for dinner, he wouldn’t let you drive away without lovingly (and insistently) offering you food to take home. In retirement, he volunteered at Continental Airlines for years as an Ambassador and participated in the Make-A-Wish program.

And with more time on his hands in retirement, Robert continued traveling the world. He was always ready for the next great adventure exploring new sights, dinner out on the town and dancing into the night. He took many cruises in retirement, including two Around-the-World cruises. Robert couldn’t help but entertain the cruise staff from time to time. He amazed ship captains and crew using his US Power Squadron training in celestial navigation to take daytime readings to determine the ships’ precise location without any modern technology.

Robert lived a full life and was called to heaven a few days after his 98th birthday.

Robert is survived by his children Janet Gaynor and David Christensen, Cynthia Gaynor Barrett, John Gaynor and Susan Hoppe, and Maureen Gaynor and Daniel Joynton.

Preceding Robert in death are his first wife, Audrey Louise Albright; his second wife Rachel Engels; and second son, Michael Robert Gaynor. His eldest daughter, Diane Marie Gaynor Norton, passed away just days after her father.

Robert is also survived by 8 Grandchildren, 4 Great-grandchildren & 5 Great-Great-grandchildren.

Robert was a traditional Irish Catholic man who passed along his values of determination, responsibility, and faith to his family. He is loved dearly and will be missed by all.