Robert Sopronyi

I was shocked to hear of Bob's passing. We had lunch last summer in Houston when he came in to visit MD Anderson. We planned on getting together on his next visit to Houston or perhaps in Lubbock when UH played at TT. Although hampered by his condition he was the same Bob I have known since the Fall of 1966. Wonderful sense of humor and positive outlook on everything. I was my understanding he was making great progress with his battle and I looked forward to seeing him soon. Can someone please message me about the details of his passing. kipper@rice.edu

I worked with Robert at the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department when I was hired to assist with writing a report for agency re-accreditation. He was wonderful to work with and a model of leadership and mentorship. I feel very lucky and grateful to have worked with him and I count him among some of my best supervisors in my career.

I am sorry we were unable to make it to Lubbock for the service. I always enjoyed talking with Bob at the family get togethers and he will be missed. Y'all are all in our prayers. Randy and Kandi Fuchs

Offering deepest condolences on the loss of Robert Sopronyi. I met Erin and Lauren through my colleagues at Texas Tech University, and heard of their close relationship with their dad. It’s clear that he loved his family very much and was grateful for all the time he was able to spend with them. Peace and happy memories be with you. - Paula Yeager and husband Joseph

My sincere sympathy to Robert's family from his classmate at Wm. Penn High School, Harrisburg, PA. You are in my thougts and prayers at this most difficult time. Hugs

Our love & prayers are with you and your precious family. Be assured of our thankfulness for the gift of knowing Bob. Love u much. Linda & Leonard

So sorry to hear of the death of your love one. May all your memories and love console you at this difficult time. Thinking of you.

Sending our deepest to the family. May Bob rest in peace and know how much he was loved by his family and friends. We were glad we were able to watch the celebration of his life. Sending our love and hugs.

Rest in peace Robert.

Because of the snow, cold weather, and travel warnings, Linda and I did not have the courage, yesterday, to make the trek from our home in Fort Worth to Lubbock for my Cousin Bob’s funeral. This is in contrast to the fortitude that Bob’s wife Janet had, exactly 35 years ago, when she drove Bob and me from our new-found homes in Texas, back to our hometown of Dayton, Ohio, for our grandmother’s funeral. Our grandmother, Emma Orban Sopronyi, passed away on January 11, 1989, and we knew we were heading into some winter weather. It is my recollection (which might be faulty), that the ice and snow forced us to stop and spend a night in Kentucky. One thing I remember for sure, because Bob had ribbed me about it ever since, was that I had a motel-discount coupon (possibly for Motel-6) that I wanted to use. However, I can’t remember if we even used it. There are six siblings/cousins who are the grandchildren of Emma Orban (1897-1989) and George Sopronyi (1894-1973). Uncle Mike ((1918-2005) had two children: Michael (1946-) and Robert (1948-2024). My mother, Irene (1919-2004) had three children: James (1949-), Thomas (1953-), and Gary (1960-). My Uncle George (1922-1985) had one child: Karen (1955-). Of my three cousins, I believe I was the closest to my Cousin Bob, for at least three reasons—geography, age, and interests. From a geographic standpoint, Bob and I, native Buckeyes that we were, both finally landed in the Lone Star State. This allowed us to visit with each other during the years. I will always fondly remember the numerous Thanksgiving Day feasts Bob and Janet’s had at their house in Austin. I will also always remember the kindness that Bob bestowed as the “Sopronyi representative” when our daughter, Lori, died in 2001. Bob and I were the closest in age to each other of the six grandchildren, having been born only eight months apart. This proximity in age probably lead to a mutuality of interests. We certainly had similar sports interests in our early Ohio years, following the Cincinnati Reds, the Cleveland Browns, and the University of Dayton Flyers. We used to play basketball in the back of our house on Amherst Place in Dayton, as well as “home run derby” in our side yard and at the synagogue parking lot a block away. We were both competitive athletes later in life—Bob, with baseball, and me, with running. However, I must admit that Bob was a much more enthusiastic sports spectator than I have ever been. On many weekends during the college football season, he and Janet would take off and attend a game of a team that he liked at many places around the country, always being able to buy tickets from scalpers at the stadium. My spectator sports have always been much closer to home but sometimes they were with Bob. We attended a Texas Rangers game near our house on one of Bob and Janet’s visits, right before Bob was diagnosed with cancer. And even after the devastating effects of Bob’s cancer treatment, Bob was still a sports competitor and spectator. When their daughter, Lauren, would have basketball games in the local area, Linda and I would often go with Bob and Janet. We also went to at least one TCU-Texas Tech game, the alma maters of our daughter, Lori, and their daughter, Rebecca. While I’ve already mentioned Bob’s kindness, I need to relate a very early example of Bob’s compassion. When I was young, I used to visit “Michael and Bobby” at the restaurant their parents operated on Leo Street in Dayton. Admittedly, I was somewhat of a “spoiled kid” since I was an “only child” for the first four years of my life. I was very possessive and wished to be the center of attention of my older cousins. These personality defects came into conflict on one occasion when Michael, Bobby, and I were taking a walk around their neighborhood and we came into contact with a neighbor friend, a boy who was about the same age as us. Well, I certainly did not appreciate the attention that Michael and Bobby were taking away from me by talking—merely being friendly—to this neighbor kid. So I raised a considerable fuss, anger at a nearly hysterical level, because of this most serious betrayal and in order to regain the attention that I had lost. While Michael continued the friendly interchange with the neighbor and possibly laughed at my childish behavior, it was Bobby that was sympathetic to my state of anxiety and who reengaged with me to calm me down. Finally, I’d like to close with a story that demonstrates a few of Bob’s character traits. My bedroom in my parents’ house on Amherst Place had a light switch on the wall with a 30-second time delay, a gadget which was rather unusual and even futuristic some 60-65 years ago. I would often try to trick my friends into believing had supernatural powers by secretly flipping the switch and then explaining, if I concentrated hard enough, I could mentally will the light to go off. So this trick apparently worked on Bobby, or at least that is what he said in later life. I apparently must have let Bobby go for awhile before I told him the secret to my magic trick so it was something that was imprinted into Bob’s memory that he liked to recount when we got together. What this anecdote confirms is at least three things. Firstly, Bob had a good sense of humor and was able to “take a joke” and laugh at himself being fooled. Secondly, Bob had a compassionate and trusting nature. And finally, Bob had a belief in the supernatural. These are all attributes that will serve Bob well in the new phase of his existence. I only wish he could have stayed with us in this realm longer.

My condolences for your loss. I worked with Robert at Austin Parks and Recreation, and I have many wonderful memories. I appreciate all his guidance and support over the years. With Love from Your PARD Family! Jodi Jay

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.