Joseph "Bob" Seaman

Joseph Robert "Bob" Seaman, 86

EATON - Joseph Robert “Bob” Seaman, 86, died early Monday morning, Aug. 13, 2018, at the Greenbriar Nursing Center in Eaton.

Bob was born in Sandusky, on March 28, 1932, the son of Joseph Theodore and Emma Jane Lohr Seaman. Growing up on Lake Erie, Bob spent his summers sailing and his winters ice boating. He learned to sail at an early age and owned his first boat in his early teens. He taught sailing lessons and sailed in races on all of the Great Lakes.

A 1949 graduate of Sandusky High School, Bob lettered in football and track. He continued his education at the General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich., for a year and then enrolled at Kent State University on a basketball scholarship and after an injury, a football scholarship, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Math Education and Industrial Education in 1954. At Kent State, he was a letterman in football and track and he won the MAC title in the high jump with a jump that qualified him for the Olympics. He later received his Master's Degree in Education from Bowling Green State University. He continued to take classes at Oberlin College and The Ohio State University as he earned his principal certification in Ohio.

He married Marion Jean Wetzel on May 9, 1953. Both college students, they eloped to Angola, Ind., and then returned to Kent State University to finish their education. Over their 65 years of marriage, they raised four children and moved 17 times. Bob, along with his family, had quite a journey through life. His first teaching job was at Parma High School as a math teacher from September of 1954 until March of 1955, when he was called to active duty for the U.S. Army. He reported to Baltimore for additional training until August of 1955, when he was stationed in Tulsa, Okla., in counter intelligence for two years.  He continued on inactive duty for four years to complete his ROTC requirement. In 1957, he returned to his alma mater, Sandusky High School, where he was a math teacher and coached football, basketball and track. In 1964, he became the head football coach and in his two years in that position the team had a 19-1 record and was named the 1965 State Champions. In 1966, he was named the head football coach at Massillon Washington High School, where he had a record of 20-9-3 over three seasons. From there, in 1969, he went with his friend, head coach, Ben Wilson, to Wichita State University to be the offensive coordinator.

On Oct. 2, 1970, the Wichita State football team was inflight to Logan, Utah, for a game against Utah State University when the first plane tragically crashed. On board were 37 passengers including head coach, Ben Wilson, football players, administrators and fans. 31 perished in the crash, including Ben. Bob was on the second flight that landed safely and he accepted the position as head coach of the Wichita State football team. In 1973, he led the team to a winning season, which was his last season there. It was an amazing group of young men that pulled together as a family after the devastating experience they all went through and Bob remained close with them over the years.

In 1974, Bob coached under Earle Bruce at Iowa State University as the offensive coordinator. In 1975, he returned to Wichita to work in private business until 1979, when he became the head football coach at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan., for four seasons. He later returned to Ohio as a math teacher, summer school principal and head football coach at Worthington High School. While there, he reached his 100th high school football win. After 9 seasons at Worthington, Bob retired from coaching football in 1992.
Bob was a member and president his senior year of Phi Gamma Theta Fraternity at Kent State University. For four years at Kent State he was a member of ROTC and graduated with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was a member of the American Legion Post 239 in Worthington and volunteered his time making pizzas to help with their fundraising efforts. In Cherokee Village, Ark., he was a member of the Elk’s Lodge No. 2539.

Bob was honored with several awards associated with his involvement with sports. He was inducted into the Sandusky High School Hall of Fame for coaching and into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in the early 2000’s. Bob held the honor of being the only coach to be head coach for both the north (1966) and south team (1986) in the Ohio North-South Classic All-Star football game. In 2011, Bob was recognized for his contributions to the Worthington High School football program.
Coaching was clearly a central focus of his life. It was the special relationships that he made with students, players, coaches, their families, and people in the community that made coaching more than a career. It was a life passion for him that had many rewards.

Bob with his wife, Jean, enjoyed retirement spending time with family and friends and making their home for the last years of their life in Cherokee Village, and later to Florida, Ohio, and Indiana.

Bob leaves his wife, Jean of Eaton; three daughters, Jo Ann Trede (Steve) of Richmond, Ind., Paty Asher of Poland, and Kay Sisko (Edward) of Pottstown, Pa.; seven grandchildren, Megan Wilmot (Chris), Bradley Trede, both of Richmond, Courtney Asher (Brandon Wrobel) of Pittsburgh, Drew Asher and Devon Asher of Poland, Jay Sisko and Ryan Sisko of Pottstown; four great-grandchildren, Ashley Trede of Columbus, Jakob Trede, Connor Trede and Abigail Trede of Kettering; one brother, Ted Seaman (Sarah) of Williamsburg, Va., and one sister, Ellen Wadge of Elyria.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and one son, Robert E. Seaman.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.