| Graduation Year | Class of 1941 |
| Date of Passing | Feb 15, 2011 |
| About | DELTONA, FL: Robert Glenn Sayre, 87, passed away February 15, 2011 in Deltona, where he lived for the last 20 years. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, LaSalette (Sally), in 2002. Bob and Sally moved to Deltona from Columbus, Ohio, after Bob retired from his position as news bureau manager at Nationwide Insurance. Earlier he had worked in public relations at Mass Mutual in Springfield Mass., and as a newspaper and radio reporter in New Bedford, Mass., where he met Sally. Bob was in the Army for three years during World War II, stationed in England and then in Germany in the early days of the occupation following the end of the war in Europe. After completing his tour of duty, he returned home to Zanesville, Ohio, where he was born on April 17, 1923, and then resumed his studies at Ohio University in Athens, where he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism in 1948 and was a cheerleader for the Bobcats. Bob was the first person in his family to graduate from college. Among his career highlights, he interviewed John F. Kennedy when the President was a young Congressman running for the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts and lifted weights with Arnold Schwarzenegger at Nationwide when Arnold lived and trained in Columbus. Bob also was very proud to be the cousin of astronaut and later U.S. Senator John Glenn, who grew up in nearby New Concord, Ohio. When Glenn first ran for the U.S. Senate (unsuccessfully) Bob took a leave of absence from his job and was Glenn's Press Secretary. Years later John Glenn repaid the favor by gaining Bob and his brother Jim a VIP tent next to the Congressional tents so they could see him rocket back into space on the Shuttle. In later years, he enjoyed traveling with Sally to mainland Portugal and the Azores, where members of Sally's family still lived; to Ohio, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Puerto Rico to visit family and friends; and to England, Switzerland, Texas and the West Coast. The couple had friends all over the world, due mainly to Sally's former job as Administrative Assistant in the Ohio State University Chemistry Department. He is survived and deeply mourned by son Bob and his wife Linda of Enterprise; son Richard and his wife Nancy of Silver Spring, Md., and their daughter Michelle; and brothers Ken and Jim and their families of Zanesville. Visitation for family and friends will be Tuesday Feb 22nd 5-7 p.m. at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Blvd., Orange City, FL 32763. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday February 23, 2011 at 11 a.m. at St. Clare Catholic Church, 2961 Day Rd, Deltona. Entombment will follow Mass in Deltona Memorial Gardens, Orange City. Contributions may be made in his memory to Hospice of Volusia Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129. |
