Robert "Bob" Oscar Hirsch

Robert Oscar Hirsch died peacefully on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at his home in The Woodlands, Texas, surrounded by his wife and family. He was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on August 14, 1927, grew up there, and like so many of the Greatest Generation served his country as a Seaman First Class in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with degrees in electrical engineering (BS, 1948), business and engineering administration (BS, 1950), and business and engineering administration (MS, 1951). Following his graduation from MIT, Mr. Hirsch worked for Bendix Corporation and used his expertise in radio frequencies to assist with development of the Sparrow air-to-air missile. In 1954, he returned to Cape Girardeau to build the KFVS television station. He served as its first manager and then Vice President of KFVS-TV, a CBS affiliate. A civic-minded man, Mr. Hirsch served his community in a variety of ways. His memberships included First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau, President of the Lions Club, President of the Board of Directors of Southeast Missouri Hospital, and Life Membership in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Generous in word and deed, and both quiet and unassuming, he shared his passion for life and sports by teaching those he loved how to sail and ski. He played tennis at The Woodlands Country Club for thirty years, and enjoyed watching all sports. His model train collection and train room were a sight to behold and brought decades of joy to Mr. Hirsch, his children and grandchildren. Politically aware, he loved reading and listened and “talked back to Rush” every day. He was quick with a compliment and praise, and was genuinely interested in the lives of others. He was truly a kind and gentle man and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Clairlee Stage Hawn-Hirsch; daughters Lucile Fitzgerald Hirsch (Melvin), Ellen Hirsch Mantia (William), and Catherine Hawn (Jack); sons William (Martha) and James (Jan); sister Marjorie Anne Deimund (Keith); brother James Fitzgerald Hirsch (Beverly); grandchildren Megan R. Mantia, Jessica L. Mantia, Dane C. Mantia, Melinda Sadler Mueller (Erich), Diana Hirsch Sadler, Jonathan D. Hunnicutt (Adrienne), Emily K. Baize (Micah), William N. Hawn, Catherine M. Hawn, Charles R. Hawn, Julia C. Hawn and James S. Hawn; great grandchildren Joshua, Anya, and Isaac Hunnicutt, and Sophia and Grace Baize; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Hirsch was preceded in death by his children, Christian R. Hirsch and Margaret I. Hirsch, and his parents, Oscar Christian Hirsch and Anna Geraldine Fitzgerald Hirsch. A private graveside service for family will be held at the Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery. A public “Celebration of Life” memorial service will be conducted at the First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2018. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a memorial donation to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (www.mdanderson.org), or to a charity of your choice.

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Robert "Bob" Oscar Hirsch

August 14, 1927 - May 26, 2018