Robert V. Fitzsimmons, Sr.

Robert V. Fitzsimmons Sr, died June 23, 2023, age 91.  He was born August 14, 1931 to Harold and Sophie (Strack) Fitzsimmons. 

Bob and his siblings, Harold Fitzsimmons Jr. (pre-deceased), William (Bill) Fitzsimmons, and Mary Ann (Fitzsimmons) Muehlbach were born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.  Bob attended Kansas State University where he met his wife Sheila E (O’Connell) Fitzsimmons who passed away in 2007 shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary. 

Bob went on to get his PhD in Chemistry from Indiana University.  After working several years in industry and teaching chemistry at a number of universities, Bob founded his own chemical analysis company, RV Fitzsimmons and Associates, located in West Chicago which he ran until his retirement in 2007.  His lab did extensive water testing work for the EPA as well as forensic chemistry analysis to determine the chemical composition of various samples.  In addition, Bob held numerous patents and was a generous donor to Catholic schools to support and build science facilities.

Bob — who had learned German in his Catholic school days— served honorably in the US Army during the Korean Conflict, being stationed in various US locations and in Munich, Germany, where he was assigned to investigate scientific elements of the Nazi strategic arms program and related Cold War developments.

Bob and Sheila loved travel, taking their young children on a camping trip through Europe in a VW camper van in the 1970’s, visiting daughter Jeanne and a lifelong friend (Pradip Ghosh) from Bob’s PhD program in India, making lasting friendships in Australia and visiting Egypt along with many other destinations.

A sports fan, Bob rooted for his adopted hometown team of the White Sox but remained a loyal Kansas City Chiefs fan and was thrilled with their recent Super Bowl win.  He loved sailing as well and owned several sail boats over the years docked off the pier near their vacation home in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.

Bob is survived by his children Lori (David) Soglin of Evanston, Robert (Sheila M. Hughes) Fitzsimmons II of Geneva, and Jeanne Fitzsimmons of Chicago and grandchildren Robb (Laura), Matt, Christian, Tess Fitzsimmons, Brady, Emma, and Andy Soglin, and Marwa Adam.

A visitation for Bob will be held Wednesday, June 28, 2023 from 9:00 am until the time of funeral prayers at 10:15 am at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State Street (Route 38), Geneva proceeding to St. Peter Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Road, Geneva for Celebration of Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwCvZ2E4nNQ

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Robert V. Fitzsimmons’ memory may be made to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research, Fox Valley, 143 First Street, Batavia, Illinois 60510 or Disha School (Bengali Tola, Varanasi, India) via Dr. Jeanne Fitzsimmons, 5123 S. Dorchester Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60615.

For more information 630-232-8233 or www.malonefh.com.

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