Robert Lee Hart

On November 19, 1939, Robert Lee Hart, affectionately known Bob, was born in a modest family home on Grove Street in Middletown, Ohio.  The son of Herbert Hart, (who would later become a Baptist minister) and Lue Dester Hart, he was the middle child of five and the only male. His siblings Hannah, Carole, Emma and Regina have all preceded him in death. Bob spoke fondly of his life growing up on Grove Street with about 100 other children. He knew them all by name - and nickname - and many became lifelong friends.  

Robert, as his family always called him, grew up with a strong work ethic; his family rented and planted vegetables on 5 acres, a plot too large to call a garden and which Bob called a farm. From an early age, he helped work the farm before and after school, delivering produce to his family and door to door in the community. Wanting more than the hardships that the times allowed, he sought ways to supplement his family’s income and save for himself. His father spoke proudly of young Robert who was so industrious that at one point he held three jobs at once. In spite of this work schedule, he found time to enjoy sports (excelling in football and baseball) and to engage in antics with his friends. A great storyteller, Bob was always ready to share a few tales of his adventures. 

One of his most memorable stories recounted the time when the circus came to town and he and a friend spent the day earning free circus tickets by cleaning up after the elephants. He was never able to use those hard-earned tickets as, to his surprise, he returned home to find police there! He and his friend had been reported missing and were punished for the worry they caused. Bob related that he never found out what happened to those tickets… 

From preschool through high school, Bob attended Middletown schools. His goal was to attend Miami University, earn a teaching degree and return to Middletown High School to teach history. That dream ended when, just prior to graduation, he learned that Middletown was not ready to have teachers who looked like him. This came as a surprise to him; although segregation existed in Middletown, the schools were well integrated. When Bob learned that the auto industry was conducting interviews on the Miami campus, he interviewed and was hired to work at Ford Motor Company in Michigan. That decision led him to live and work in Metropolitan Detroit. There, he helped create opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds around the world. In addition to his work at Ford, Bob served as an officer and sharpshooter in the Michigan National Guard during the Vietnam war. It was in Detroit that he met and married Rita Ford in 1966. Their union lasted over 59 years, and their family grew to include daughter, Robin and son, Ryan.  

Bob retired from Ford after 24 years. His subsequent return to Ohio in 1987 brought him full circle: he became director of the Minority Professional Leadership Program at his alma mater in Oxford. He took advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with lifelong friends through shared contributions to youth in Middletown. His leadership was a quality that he carried throughout his life. Many today consider him their mentor. At this point, golf and swimming had become favorite pastimes. After retiring from Miami University, he volunteered at a local golf club and was then hired as a groundskeeper which allowed him to spend time in one of his favorite outdoor spaces.   

An athlete, coach, tinkerer, inventor (multiple patents), lover of history, storyteller, mentor, and writer, his quick wit and use of humorous phrases are familiar to those who knew him well. Bob gathered friends and scattered stories along every path he walked and was grateful for the varied opportunities that life brought him. His family - Rita, Robin (Paul), Ryan (Cafria), and his granddaughters Eden and Joya - hope that you will find ways to honor Bob’s legacy and the impact he has had on your life by using your unique gifts and talents to contribute to your community.  

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