Dr. Robert A. Stenger

Dr. Robert A. Stenger, 89, a long-time Louisville, Kentucky resident died on November 9th, 2024, at the Brookdale Port Orange Senior Living facility in Florida. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Stenger, Robert's four children Michele Stenger of Alaska, Michael Stenger of Washington, Alicia Dobyns of Virginia, Cynthia Stenger Riplinger of Oregon, and Carolyn's two children Donna Breaux, of Florida and Doug Col also of Florida.
He is also survived by his four siblings, Emilie York of Oregon, Alan Stenger and Gordon Stenger of Colorado, and David Stenger of Florida.
Dr. Stenger was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1935 and grew up in Midland, Michigan where he learned to play golf, and French horn and run a paper route no matter the weather. He graduated from University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and played French horn in the marching band. He earned a doctorate in physical organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, where he met and married Johanna Wright in 1959.
Dr. Stenger began his career with Dupont Chemical Company in Delaware. He joined General Electric's chemical development operation in 1968 and worked in Massachusetts, upstate New York, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky on various enterprises related to GE's capacitor and plastics businesses. Later, Dr. Stenger served as Vice President for research and development at Alco Chemical in Missouri, retiring in 1993.
In the 1970's Robert taught his children to down-hill ski and backpack, led scouting activities, and cared for a small family farm.
Robert wed Carolyn Col in July of 1989, and they moved to Joplin, Missouri, returning to Louisville Kentucky in 1993 where they lived until 2023. Robert enjoyed playing golf and working at Churchill Downs and Keeneland racetracks.