Robert Schultz

SCHULTZ, Robert John

Robert "Bob" "Dutch" Schultz, age 80, passed away on November 17, 2025, following complications from a stroke. He was born on June 21, 1945, in Oriskany, New York, to Frank and Sophia Schultz, and was raised on the family farm on Cider Street, where he lived through high school.

Bob was a four-sport letterman athlete, earning varsity letters in track, baseball, basketball, and football, the sport he loved most. Discipline and physical strength remained defining traits throughout his life.

He attended Ithaca State College, earning a degree in Physical Education, and was later drafted into the United States Air Force during Vietnam. Initially trained as a pilot, Bob was reassigned to Supply following a serious motorcycle accident that left him in a coma and ended his flight status.

After his military service, Bob settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where he built lifelong friendships centered around motorcycles, racing, and athletics. He made 26 trips to Daytona Motorcycle Week and attended numerous major racing events. When he was not around motorcycles, he was working out—still doing one-armed pushups until his stroke.

Bob's career combined his skills and interest - teaching and engines. From small engines at Honda to large diesel trucks at Isuzu, he brought mechanical skill and steady instruction to his work before retiring in 2005. Retirement suited him; he valued independence, fitness, and time with friends.

Bob welcomed a daughter, Rene, in 1986. Bob remained a devoted and supportive father, offering steady encouragement and practical help throughout her life. One of Bob's greatest joys was his grandson, Cooper, born in 2016. Their weekly lunches and trips to the park became a cherished routine in his later years.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Sophia Schultz; and his brother, Joe Schultz. He is survived by his daughter, Rene; his grandson, Cooper; his sisters, Mary Ann (Schultz) McLoughlin and Barbara (Schultz) Inman; and many friends who considered him family.

He was a beloved father and grandfather, and his love and legacy continue through them.