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ROBERT ANDREW BJORVIK

FUNERAL HOME

Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory

950 South Bartlett Rd at Stearns Rd

Bartlett, Illinois

ROBERT BJORVIK Obituary

Robert Andrew Bjorvik, 65, of Chicago, passed away Thursday, August 20. Robert was a Hospital Administrator at University of Chicago Medical Center for the last 25 years. Beloved son of John and the late Lorraine (nee Tricola) Bjorvik; dear brother of David (Kimberly) and AnnLisa Bjorvik; fond uncle of Erin and Kate. Cremation services private at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul at www.svdpusa.org, appreciated. Information, 630-289-7575 or www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com.

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Published by Daily Herald on Aug. 23, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for ROBERT BJORVIK

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13 Entries

Jim Shover

October 6, 2020

Like others here, my email did not get to Bob but I thought his family might like to see it.
========

Hi Bob,

Ruth Bloom told me you are having difficult health problems. I am so sorry to hear this. I knew you had struggled with and overcome several issues in the time we worked together and after but assumed you were now doing well.

I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed working with you and all the managers at UChicago. After 30+ years at Rush, I didn’t know if I would find a place that both challenged me and appreciated my efforts. You and the rest of the team did both. Most of this was because you were such a great enabler and cheerleader for our success. I also recognized your intense loyalty and pride working at U of C. I felt the same way about Rush, even when I got laid off!

You also were expert at managing the Faculty / Staff dynamic. We all know that the managers know more about running their sections than the Faculty ever will but by building relationships of mutual respect, we could accomplish more.

I try to stay in touch with Ruth and Ann Marie and we had dinner with Renata last year. I hope you know that they and all the managers only spoke of you with the highest praise and sense of appreciation. According to the grapevine, Renata, Lori and Steve may be the only managers left from when I first started in 2007.

I have been retired over 8 years and it seems like that was a different person now. I moved next door to my daughter and grandson last year so I couldn’t be happier.

Thank you for your friendship and leadership during a sometimes difficult time in my life. It meant a lot to me.

I will be thinking of you and wish you peace and comfort.

Fondly,

Jim Shover

Jocelyn Gutierrez

August 31, 2020

Bob was a supportive colleague and later became my friend.
I will surely miss our life giving conversations - faith and love, regrets and moving on, spiritual journey and personal growth.
Bob, I will continue to journey with you spiritually and like what I said before I will help you prepare your way to our God the Father. I will miss you my friend.
Joyce Gutierrez

Robert Cooper

August 28, 2020

Mr. B, David, Ann Lisa and family, I just heard, My sympathy for the loss of Bobby. We grew up together grade school, high school were great friends after college went in different directions but never forgot the long days at Pottawatomie and shooting hops over the garage. so sorry way to young. I had been thinking about him last month and had not idea how to reach him, i did not want to reach out in this way. Bobby was always a positive person and I had learned a lot from him and will keep him in my thoughts. Bob Cooper

Ray Cullen

August 27, 2020

Bob was a great guy and awesome administrator. I was involved with many events good and bad and Bob was always calm and willing to listen. He had a very good head on his shoulders and would always say hello. You will be missed my friend! See you on the flip side.

Colleen Mulligan

August 26, 2020

Sad to hear of Bob’s death—remember him as a kind classmate at St. Jerome grammar school many years ago. Praying for his soul.

Sunetra Reddy

August 25, 2020

This is an email I sent Bob but I I don’t think he got to see it.

I have been thinking of you the last few days. I was clearing some old papers and came across a card you had written to me when I was conflicted about the whole FISH ideology. I found it very difficult to motivate some of our staff and the cosmetic trappings of the FISH ideology did not seem to appeal to them. This totally frustrated me. You encouraged me to keep an open mind and to embrace change and try various things and see if one approach succeeds.
And then there was the time when water poured from the ceiling and your brought us there tarps that were then called Bobs Flood Protection devices".
I think we had some fun times along the way.
More than anything I appreciated the chance you gave me at the end. It was my best gig so to speak. I was left to investigate and question ordering patterns that physicians followed without much thought, I would sit with you once in a way and show you the progress I had made. Jon and you gave me a chance to use my brain without the time constraints of running LSC.

I am grateful that you taught me the art of working hard but in an intelligent way. I learned to question why were were doing something in a convulated way and if there was a simpler way of accomplishing the task.

Without you I would have never discovered my skills. When I first started working in LSC, I did not not Word or Excel. Towards the end I had mastered "Pivot Table" in Excel.

I want you too know that I am not alone, You have touched many lives and have made many people strive to work smarter. You should be proud of that because many people go through life without making a mark for them selves.

Thank you for being a big part of my life.

With good wishes to you.

Sunetra Reddy

Raymond Wlodkowski

August 25, 2020

For six years I have been a member of a cancer wellness group at Gilda’s Club in Chicago. Bob and I joined the group at nearly the same time. I had the opportunity to be with Bob and our other members every Saturday for every one of those years. We talked and encouraged each other to live our lives as best we could addressing the challenges of a life with a terminal disease. We came committed to helping ourselves as we helped others to construct fulfilling lives. The topics of our meetings ran the range of finding better treatments and medications to adjusting to the loss of family members and those within our own group. There has been laughter, tears, and always vulnerability. Bob’s calm presence afforded all of us his friendship, counsel, insights, and consistent regard. He listened. He cared. He helped us to see knowledgeable responses to problems in a way that was soft-spoken, gentle, and respectful.
I am grateful for having had him in my life. I grew to love Bob and I know I am not alone in that feeling among the members of our group.
Rest in peace dear friend.
Raymond Wlodkowski

David Singer

August 24, 2020

I worked for Bob Bjorvik and never have I had the pleasure of working for a more genuine person. Mr. Bjorvik was a kind man who cared about his employees. When I helped a former coworker who was recovering from a leg injury to her car, Bob sent me a handwritten letter thanking me for my help. My condolences to the Bjorvik family during this difficult time. May Bob's memory forever be a blessing.

Catherine L. Bernhardt

August 24, 2020

Bob will be dearly missed by many. I enjoyed working with him at the University of Chicago Medical Center for several years. He had some great stories about various things. I will never forget laughing hysterically with him as he recounted some of his misadventures. Truly a wonderful and brave person.

Maxine Hooper

August 24, 2020

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Ros

August 24, 2020

I worked closely with Bob for most of the 25 years he was at UChicago. He was a great friend and boss - certainly taught me the meaning of dedication and hard work in supporting and advancing the team. Lots of good non-work related conversations about life and the universe, and what books were worth reading. Missed those conversations when I moved away from Chicago, although glad we kept in touch. Very sad when I got his note about moving to hospice, thought he could fight forever. Immensely grateful that I knew him and could call him friend.

Peonies & Star Flowers for Bob

Ruth Bloom

August 23, 2020

For Bob - with thanks Ruth

Ruth Bloom

August 23, 2020

Bob - Here's the email you didn't get in time - I'm working on my Japanese embroidery today. Hope you have a sunny window to look out of. If not perhaps my stitched flowers will suffice.
Stay strong in spirit! I will remember you for your special kindnesses to me and so many others. Ruth

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