Robert Van Sisk

Robert Van Sisk
Bob Sisk, age 74, of Charlotte, died peacefully at home on March 13, 2010, surrounded by his family. Bob is remembered as one of Charlotte's best ever junior golfers, as a business and civic leader, as a minister to pastors, as a mentor, and as a loving, wise and patient counsel to friends and family.
Born December 16, 1935 in Charlotte, Bob was the son of his late parents Ruth Moir Sisk and R. Van Sisk. He attended Eastover Elementary, Alexander Graham Junior High School, Central High School, and Myers Park High School, where he graduated in 1953. He graduated from the University of North Carolina where he played on the golf team, was a member of the Sigma Chi social fraternity, won the freshman mathematics award, and was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Beta Kappa honorary scholastic achievement fraternities.
He was married to his beloved wife, the former Mary Lance Van Every, for 54 years.
Many Charlotteans will remember Bob as one of its finest post-war junior golfers. He was a two time winner of both the North Carolina Scholastic Golf Championship and the Carolinas Interscholastic Championship. He and his partner, Bob Brannan of Greensboro, won the national junior Four Ball Championship. At age 13, Bob was the youngest player in the field of his first of three times competing in the USGA Junior National Championship. He was beaten on the last hole by future Masters Champion Gay Brewer.
Bob joined the family business, Piedmont Engineering Corporation, in 1957 and served as President and CEO from 1965 until his retirement in 2002. He also served on the Board of Directors of Lance, Inc. from 1990 - 2008, and was Chairman of its Audit Committee.
Bob left an enormous impact on Charlotte as a civic leader. As President of the Charlotte Nature Museum, he led an effort to acquire property for Discovery Place and fund the original construction. He was a long time Treasurer of the Mecklenburg County Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which recognized him with its Silver Beaver award. He took on the responsibility of Central Scoring for the PGA's Kemper Open, one of Charlotte's first big league sporting events, with the capable assistance of several of his close friends. Bob was also on the Boards of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, the Arts and Science Council and the Sportsman's Club of Charlotte.
For more than 30 years, Bob was an active leader in the Christian community. He served on the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, and as a Ruling Elder of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. At the time of his death, he was an active member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church. He was also Founder and President of the Metrolina Prayer Network and Charlotte Awake, a city-wide intiative with an evangelical mission. Bob served on the Board of Directors of International Prayer Ministries, Leighton Ford Ministries, Youth Commission International and the National Lighthouse Council of Mission America. He also served on the Master Plan Committee for Community Outreach Ministries, a thriving inner city ministry. Since his retirement, Bob has pursued a call to be a friend and counsel to pastors in the Charlotte area.
Bob was adored by his wife, children, their spouses and his grandchildren. As a father, he excelled and taught his family many life lessons. Bob is survived by his wife, Mary Lance Sisk; his son, Robert V. Sisk, Jr.(Jess) of Advance, NC; three daughters: Mary Lance McGinn (Dan) of Marvin, NC, Lindsay Monaghan (Bob) of Raleigh, NC and Carolyn Williams (Jim) of Cumming, GA; eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Philip Van Every Sisk, deceased at age two.
A memorial celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17, at St. Giles Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends following the service at a reception in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Drive, Charlotte, NC 28211, or the Charlotte Awake Network, P.O. Box 472247, Charlotte, NC 28247-2247. Condolences may be sent to harryandbryantfuneralhome.com.