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Robert McConnell Obituary
Robert Churchill McConnell, age 87, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on March 18, 2012 at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE.
At age 17, Bob joined the U.S. Navy at the outbreak of WWII. After serving his country, he attended Vanderbuilt University where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree. He was employed by Delmarva Power for thirty years.
Bob was a founding member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). He was a contributor to the Baseball Encyclopedia and published several baseball books. Bob was recognized nationally as the home run expert, updating the record books with his statistical research. He was also a member of the YMCA for over seventy-five years, enjoying his life-long passion for physical fitness.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mildred; son, Daniel and his wife Angela of Mercerville, NJ; son David and his wife Regina of Pennsauken, NJ; four grandchildren, Lindsay, Johan and Andrew McConnell and DaHye Riggs; and two great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 am on Friday March 23 at the CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington. Friends may visit with the family one hour prior at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Branch of the YMCA, 501 West Eleventh Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.
For online condolences,
please visit
chandlerfuneralhome.com
(302) 478-7100
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert McConnell
Sam Zygner
March 25, 2012
Our sympathies to Mildred and Bob's family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Sam Zygner
March 22, 2012
While not a member of SABR, I am a baseball fan. I even started the American Baseball Fans Association. I revel in his work for the baseball fan and for all those who enjoyed the movie "Moneyball". I salute his full, generous and wonderful life.
Paul Meagher (Washington, DC)
Greg Crouse
March 22, 2012
Bob's passing will bring sadness to the countless thousands he touched. We'll miss you.
Joe Dittmar
March 21, 2012
Kind and generous, always ready with a smile is the valued legacy I'll remember most about Bob.
Bob Schnebly
March 21, 2012
I have been a SABR member off and on for 30+ years. Bob was a man I had the great fortune to meet a few years back. He was a wonderful person to talk with and to learn from...
R. I. P. Bob.
Bob McConnell and Bob Davids - 2001
Mike Conlon
March 21, 2012
Bob was a great man. He was very intellegent and at the same time kind and gracious. He and Bob Davids were the heart of SABR. The picture is from the Baltimore-Washington Chapter (now the Bob Davids Chapter) meeting of SABR in November 2001.
Bob, we will miss you very much.
March 21, 2012
Bob will be greatly missed .We enjoyed many pleasant moments at the national conventions.A true gentleman who spoke of his and Mrs Connells
summer visits to Nova Scotia
Jim Myers Halifax N.S.
Lynda Singer Halifax N.S.
Bob Richardson
March 20, 2012
Bob's passing leaves a void in the SABR community. For more than 3 decades, I have sought his wisdom on a variety of baseball topics and never been disappointed by the scope of his knowledge. Baseball researchers present and future will miss him very much. RIP, Bob.
John Husman
March 20, 2012
I have been a SABR member for a long time and Bob has been a part of my experience with the group since the beginning. My files contain many letters from him with answers to questions I had posed. He was always ready to offer help and he did so. Kind, gracious and a perfect gentleman, Bob McConnell.
Jerry Jackson
March 20, 2012
While Bob and I met only a few times in our "early SABR years" (1970s), he struck me as a very knowledgable and concientious fellow SABR member. RIP Bob!
Newt Weaver
March 20, 2012
Bob loved baseball, and in particular 19th Century teams. He was instrumental in assisting me in gathering team rosters from the Philadelphia, Reading, Harrisburg, and Wilmington areas. He never turned down a request. My prayers go to his family.
Peter Morris
March 20, 2012
Everybody should have Bob McConnell's passion for life. He will be greatly missed.
Joel Lipman
March 20, 2012
Bob's enthusiasm was so contagious, that when I introduced by young son to him about 25 years ago, my son's interest in baseball skyrocketed and as typical of baseball, one generation passes on the experience to the next. I will miss seeing Bob at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Tom Hufford
March 20, 2012
I am heartbroken to learn of Bob's passing. He and I first met on August 10, 1971 in Cooperstown, NY, when we participated in the Founding Meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).
I was privileged to have Bob as my friend for over 40 years. As Bob's friend, I was one of many, and everyone who ever met him was better for the experience. He was a tireless worker and researcher, gave freely of his time, and happily shared the efforts of his work.
Bob was small in stature, but was a giant of a man. His was surely a life well-lived. Rest in peace, friend Bob, I'll miss you.
Lyle Spatz
March 20, 2012
Bob was a friend and mentor for 40 years. He will be missed by all who knew him and learned from him.
Lyle Spatz
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