Robert Lee Hallmark

Robert Lee Hallmark left us too soon on August 23, 2022 and returned home to the Lord. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Judge Linda Hallmark and his cherished daughters Jessica (Tony Albensi) and Jamie (Piero Erbaggio) his beloved grandchildren Jack and Kate Albensi and Grace and Luca Erbaggio, his sister Aleta Zayas, brother James Bodendick, sister-in-law Peggy (the late Ernie) Hallmark, brother-in-law Mike Saoud (Mary Ann), brother-in-law James (Lori) Saoud, sister-in-law Leslie (Bruce) Johnson, brother-in-law Phil (Jill) Saoud, brother-in-law Robert Saoud (Chris DiMeo), many nieces and nephews and a world of friends.
Robert was born to Bill and Ilene Hallmark on October 10, 1948 and raised in Detroit and Livonia. A defining moment in his life was the loss of his father when he was nine years old. He deeply respected his mother who raised three children alone while working full time. Bob attended Bentley High School and Michigan State University. He had a great talent for making and keeping friends. His MSU group nicknamed him Uncle Bob and he often led them on adventures of merriment. He remained close to friends from those years to the end of his days. When his childhood friend Jerry Tate was killed in Vietnam, Bob decided to join the Army upon graduation from Michigan State University.
Bob enrolled in Officer Candidate School and assumed the rank of second lieutenant. He served as an intelligence officer primarily in Honolulu, Hawaii and Bangkok, Thailand. During his time in Hawaii, he earned a master s degree from Pepperdine University in California. Bob came to love all things Hawaiian and his travels sparked a life long interest in seeing the world and experiencing new countries and people.
After serving four years, Bob was honorably discharged and returned to Detroit to attend Wayne State University Law School. At Wayne, Bob met yet another group of kindred spirits and enjoyed their companionship for the rest of his life. He also met his wife Linda in Commercial Transaction class during his third year at Wayne.
Bob and Linda were married on October 1, 1977, at Mercy College in Detroit. He set up a solo practice law firm, first in Detroit and later in Southfield and Huntington Woods. Bob was passionate about the practice of law and was highly regarded for his honesty and integrity. He was often consulted by other lawyers for help with their own legal issues and he frequently represented clients for little or no money when he really believed in their cause.
Bob and Linda purchased their first home in Franklin Village. With greater courage than knowledge he set about repairing the old house. He was often heard to remark that s broken because I fixed it. Bob had become active with the Franklin Community Association. For many years, he volunteered himself, as well as willing and unwilling family and friends, to work on the annual Labor Day Parade and Roundup.
The highlight of Bob s life was the birth of daughters Jessica and Jamie. After the loss of his own father, he took to heart the role of parents and enthusiastically participated in their care and education. More than one unsuspecting teacher was subject to extensive cross examination about the progress of his exceptional children. Since he was an avid baseball fan Bob made certain that the girls played t-ball and softball. He loved practices in the front yard, where he would pitch to neighborhood children who would line up waiting for their turn at bat.
In spite of having a busy law practice, Bob was always on hand for baseball games, swim meets, choir concerts, plays, and school award ceremonies. While the girls sometimes protested, they were proud to have so much time and attention form their devoted father. As a lifelong Spartan, Bob was astounded when both daughters chose to attend the University of Michigan. He felt his heart belonged to MSU, but his money belonged to U of M. He was often compelled to make the arduous drive to Ann Arbor to take the girls to dinner or perform handyman tasks (see above) at one of their broken-down apartments. Jessica followed her parents into law practice and Jamie excelled in French language studies. Many trips to France followed and Bob loved the language, culture, and people of France.
Bob welcomed sons-in-law Piero and Tony to the family. He was excited to host and visit Piero s Italian family. He would hold animated discussions with relatives who spoke no English, communicating by sheer determination and a loud voice.
The absolute joy of Bob s life was the birth of his grandchildren Jack, age 10, Grace, age 10, Kate, age 8, and Luca, age 6. When Jack was born, Bob decided to retire from law practice. He spent the first four years of retirement caring for Jack and then his sister Kate. Bob loved each of the grandchildren dearly and his only regret in life was that he wouldn t be able to stay with them to their adulthood. His greatest happiness was watching the grandchildren laugh and play together and grow to be best friends with one another.
Bob was an ardent if often disappointed, Tiger fan. He loved the game since he played as a child and insisted all of the children play as well. Once he gave up his season tickets to the Tigers, he would catch every game possible on television. He was often heard giving loud encouragement to the team, in order to improve their skills. In 1984, he purchased tickets for the whole family to attend the World Series. When Linda protested that it was too extravagant to pay $100 for a seat for two year old Jamie, Bob insisted on taking her saying this may be the only World Series in her lifetime so she is going. She did go and she saw the Tigers win.
Bob loved politics and political debate. In 1990, he convinced Linda to run for an open seat on the Michigan Court of Appeals. The district was nine counties. Bob almost single handedly obtained 5,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot. He tirelessly campaigned from Oakland to Ogemaw counties for almost a year. When the election was lost, he devoted himself to helping Linda receive a Governor s appointment to the bench which finally occurred in 1997. He never once doubted ultimate success.
For many years, Bob served as campaign treasurer for his friend Congressman Joe Knollenberg. That position opened a whole new world of interests and friendships. Bob took it upon himself to reach out to numerous communities and engage them in party politics. He befriended many members of the Indian, Asian, and Arab communities around Michigan. His genuine interest in people and cultures won him many rich and diverse friendships. He befriended religious leaders in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths.
Bob loved trips to Washington D.C. and enjoyed associations with a range of political operatives, from grass roots activists to esteemed members of Congress and the Courts. His strong belief in the principles of freedom, justice and equality sustained him throughout his life.
Bob loved people and he loved travel. Even as a struggling young lawyer, he made certain that the travel budget was a priority. Bob and Linda visited Hawaii several times and travelled to Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Turkey. Often, Bob planned group trips for his law school gang and led the group around to exhaustion so they wouldn t miss a thing. He loved art, music, poetry, and literature. Before each trip he studied extensively and was better than most tour guides at delving into the history and culture of each country. He made certain Linda experienced Carnevale in Venice, dinner beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, rehearsals a La Scala Opera in Milan, and Easter Mass at the Vatican. He enjoyed hosting French exchange students and their families and took them all over Detroit and Michigan. He has maintained friendships with those families over many years.
Bob loved his family and friends. He loved Linda s large Lebanese family and the wonderful food they shared. He loved travel and the extended family he created wherever he went. He loved the law and the United States of America. His life was rich and happy. He left us much too soon. The grandkids often asked Where is grandpa We now know he is in Heaven.
Family will receive friends, Sunday, August 28, 2022, 12pm-5pm at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073.
Funeral Service, Monday, August 29, 2022, 11am at the funeral home. Visitation begins at 10am.
Interment will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery
Family suggests memorial tributes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Michigan, 32121 Woodward Ave Suite 350, Royal Oak, MI 48073 -or- Gleaners Food Bank, 2131 Beaufait, Detroit MI 48207.