Robert W. Fleming

Robert W. Fleming, age 97, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away in Phoenix, AZ on July 31, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Cynthia. He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Janis Jensen Fleming, who passed away in 1998. He is also survived by his children: Victoria Reid (Malcolm); William Fleming (Shauna); John Fleming (Shari); and Thomas Fleming (Lynda), 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Bob was a life-long learner, Mayo Clinic administrator, athlete and sports enthusiast. He loved his cabin on Beaver Dam Lake in Wisconsin and was a strong supporter of quality education for his children and grandchildren.

Bob was born in 1928 in Toronto, Ontario Canada and attended secondary school in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He received a business degree from the University of Minnesota in 1949 and began his 43-year career at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in the business office in 1950. He held many positions throughout his career including Chief Administrative Officer of the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation. He was a member of the Board of Governors of Mayo Clinic and the Board of Trustees of Mayo Foundation.

A nationally recognized leader in health management administration, Bob served as President of the Medical Group Management Association and was a recipient of the organization's highest honor, the Harry J. Harwick Award.

Over the course of his life, Bob was involved in most every aspect of U.S. amateur hockey. He played four years for the University of Minnesota and five years for the Rochester Mustangs of the U.S. Hockey League. He Chaired the U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Committee for five Olympics including 1980 when the team won the gold medal in Lake Placid, NY. He also served as a Director of USA Hockey for 33 years, serving as Vice-President from 1970-81.

In 1995 Bob received the Lester Patrick Award, one of hockey's highest honors, for "Outstanding service to hockey in the United States". In 2004, he, along with members of the 1980 Olympic Team, were inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2007, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota presented Bob with the Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of his professional and civic accomplishments.

After retirement, Bob worked with Mayo International Consulting and headed several projects in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. He was a volunteer in the Mayo Hospice Program in Rochester, MN, and Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ.

A memorial service will be held November 1, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel at Saint Mary's Hospital. Parking is available in the lot east of the hospital.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to:

Mayo Foundation: https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org (Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone, in memory of, fill in Robert Fleming)

USA Hockey: https://usahockeyfoundation.com/areasofneed (Remembering Bob Fleming).