ROBERT CHARLES "BOB" BAPTISTA

Bob was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1922. He attended Winnetka Public Schools and graduated from New Trier High School in 1940. He graduated from Wheaton College (IL), completed a Master's degree at University of Buffalo (NY) and earned a Doctorate at Indiana University (IN). His undergraduate studies at Wheaton were interrupted by four years of Army service during World War II. Bob served in the Pacific Theater (New Guinea and Philippines). He began his college teaching/coaching career at Roberts Wesleyan College (NY) where he and his wife of 69 years, Martha, started Physical Education and Intercollegiate Athletic programs. He joined the Wheaton College Faculty in 1951 as Instructor and first full-time Coach of Soccer. He became the first college coach in the Midwest to earn 100 soccer victories. During his coaching years he served for 5 years as Chairman of the NCAA Soccer Rules and Tournament Committee. In 1975 he received the National Honor Award of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Bob completed his Doctorate at Indiana University under a Danforth Foundation Study Fellowship and in 1962 was named "Teacher of the Year" at Wheaton College. In 1966 he was named Dean of the Faculty and began a long career in college administration. Two years later he became Vice President for Academic Affairs where he served for five years before leaving Wheaton to become President of Sterling College in Kansas. In 1973 Wheaton College named him Alumnus of the Year. His administrative career continued when he became President of Taylor University in Indiana and then spent several years as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Trinity International University in Illinois prior to his retirement in 1987. He was Chairman of the Board of the Council for Advancement of Small Colleges and served as a Board member of the American Council on Education. Following retirement Bob was named President of Covenant Enabling Residences, Inc. and spent several years constructing a facility and developing a residential program for adults with developmental disabilities. Bjorklund House in Oak Forest, Illinois is now fully occupied by 16 disabled adults. He was also Chairman of the Board of Sunny Ridge Family Center, an international Social Service Agency, and a member of the Board of Elders at College Church in Wheaton. Bob and Martha moved to Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream in 2006. He has served on many committees there and thoroughly enjoyed his retirement. Other Survivors include three children: Robert (Denise) Baptista Jr. of Elmhurst, Laurel (Jeffrey) Pond of West Chicago and Ric Baptista of West Chicago; four grandchildren: Maria (Wesley) English of Wheaton, Robert III of Lombard, Betsy Pond and Sarah Pond of West Chicago and one precious great-grandson, Micah English; one brother, Jim (Vivian) Baptista of Waxhaw, North Carolina; family friend of over 50 years, Bea Gorton. A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 19, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Windsor Park, 124 Windsor Park Drive in Carol Stream, IL. Private interment was held at Wheaton Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Wheaton College Soccer, College Church of Wheaton STARS or Windsor Park Benevolent Fund. Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.