Robert Lundy Obituary

Lundy, Robert W. Long-time Oak Park and River Forest resident, passed away on August 21, 2013, at his home in River Forest. He was 70 years old. A memorial service will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 15, 2013, at 2:00 pm, at the Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield Avenue, Chicago. Rob is survived by his daughter, Susan A. Lundy, of Oakland, California; his son David W. Lundy of Mountain View California; and his brother, Joseph R, Lundy of Rancho Mirage, California. Born in Chicago on April 15 1943, to Francis L. and Alice W. Lundy, Rob attended the Wilmette Public Schools, New Trier High School, Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois, and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He was an officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1968, and later a personnel officer at the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, which became the Office of Thrift Supervision. At the end of his federal career he worked for the Comptroller of the Currency. After retiring in April 1999, Rob became a regular volunteer driver for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, delivering donated food to pantries and kitchens all over the Chicago area. He continued this work for many years, logging well over 900 volunteer delivery runs. In 2000 the GCFD awarded Rob its Irving Nathan volunteer of the year award. In 2007 America's Second Harvest, the national network of U.S. food banks, named Rob as its National Food Bank Volunteer of the Year, an honor of which he was very proud. At the time of his award, GCFD Executive Director Kate Maehr noted, "He comes back dirty and sweaty and tired, and he does it with such compassion for the people who are ultimately the clients we serve. . . . He's an institution to us." Of his volunteer work for GCFD Rob said, "There aren't a lot of jobs where you make a difference in people's lives every day. Every day I work (at GCFD) I feel I'm making a positive difference." Rob was long active in the Third Unitarian Church in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. He had served as TUC board co-chair, and in recent years volunteered as a front door greeter and watchman. Rob put his driving skills to work operating a "TUC Taxi" service. He ferried scores of church members to Chicago area airports and train stations, often with complimentary goodies for the upcoming trip. A life-long Chicago sports fan, Rob had season tickets to the Chicago Bears, and Northwestern University's football and basketball games. He often attended Chicago White Sox and Cubs games. Rob was known to his friends as a generous and gentle soul. As his daughter Susie said of him at the 2007 National Food Bank Volunteer of the Year award ceremony, "My father taught me by his example to live my life in service to others, to live with integrity, and to show compassion for those less fortunate than I." Funeral Info: Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home 708-383-3191 or www.drechslerbrownwilliams.com.