Robert "Bob" J. Manypenny

ROBERT J. “BOB” MANYPENNY

July 8, 1952 – March 3, 2024

Robert James Manypenny, age 71, of Tinley Park, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 3, 2024.

Beloved son of the late Louis and Josephine Manypenny (nee Cavallone), and loving brother of Michael, Nancy and Lynn Manypenny (Simon Beckoff).

Cherished and loving father of Leslie Ann, Cari Lee, and Lindsay Marie, his “girls'' and his pride and joy. Bob was extremely proud of his daughters’ accomplishments. He connected with Leslie on their love of history, and he took great interest in Cari’s travels. He loved spending time with them, sharing many laughs together.

Bob was known to his family and close friends as Bob Many, Many, Papa Many, Bobby (by his Italian aunts and first cousins), and to everyone else he met, his co-workers, teammates, and acquaintances, just Bob.

He leaves behind his cherished grandsons, Easton and Camden Unruh, who loved and adored their Papa Many. He lit up with pride, adoration and love when he was with them. The three of them spent countless hours together playing Uno, dice, shooting hoops, playing ping-pong, and talking about sports (of course, baseball, football, basketball and soccer).  He attended many of their youth sports and band concerts, always showing his support and interest in his two favorite boys.

He was a proud and loving nephew to many aunts and uncles who were a big part of his life, and will be deeply missed by a devoted and close group of his cousins, who were like siblings to him, growing up together and spending time at many family gatherings.

Bob was born in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest child of Lou and Josie. He attended Meadowview and Southwood grammar schools, Tinley Park High School, and graduated from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills in 1970, where he was on the baseball team.

From the time he was a young boy, he loved talking about anything to do with sports. He had a never-ending treasure trove of sports statistics in his head and could rattle off the stats of any player during any conversation. At an early age, his father took him and his brother, Mike, to Comiskey Park to watch the Chicago White Sox, and he was a diehard Sox fan since, as well as a Chicago Bears fan.

After high school, he gravitated to softball and excelled, playing in the same league for many years with his team, Cheater’s Proof, in Country Club Hills and surrounding towns, where he made lifelong friends.

Bob began working full time at The Belt Railway of Chicago after graduating from high school, where he spent his entire career. He was a loyal and devoted railman, dependable, reliable, and excelled at his job. He retired from the railroad at age 60 in 2012.

Bob started his bowling career in his teens, where he found he had a tremendous talent and played and excelled in many leagues throughout his adult life. He bowled many “perfect” games, was sought after as a teammate, and made history in the bowling annals with his achievements.  He enjoyed bowling with his brother and best friend, “Mike Many”, up until the last month of his life.

His friendly and engaging personality, sharp wit and fun-loving nature endeared him to his family, and to a lifetime of close friends. His family will miss his silliness, one-liners, rapid-fire quotes from his favorite movies, love of Italian gnocchi and Aurelio’s pizza, enjoyment of Jeopardy! and all things trivia and history, but most of all, his loving and caring heart as a son, brother, father, grandfather, nephew, and loyal and true friend to many.

His family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at give.michaeljfox.org, Lewy Body Dementia Association at https://www.lbda.org/honor-memorial-gifts/, or Throat Cancer Foundation at https://www.throatcancerfoundation.org/ to raise awareness and provide support to people who shared his same conditions and to promote scientific advances.