Robert Joseph Pettigrew

Robert (Bob) Joseph Pettigrew passed away peacefully in his home in Michigan on May 28, 2024. He was 84 years old. Bob had recently moved to Michigan to spend more time with his daughters, Deirdre and Amy. He enjoyed spending as much time as possible with them during his two years near them.

Bob was born on October 11, 1939 to the late Robert and Mary Pettigrew. He is survived by his daughters Deirdre Pettigrew and Amy Pettigrew Campbell along with his brother James (Jim) Pettigrew and Jean (Pettigrew) Smith.

Bob had friends wherever he lived.  It was often said that Bob never met a stranger.  When he moved to Michigan he kept in touch with his friends in North Carolina, talking with them regularly.  In Michigan he lived at a wonderful apartment complex where he had many friends. He loved the people and the activities there. He was known as “Bob from the Bronx.”

Bob also spent time practicing Tai Chi and going to the range.

Bob was a graduate of Fordham University where he studied chemistry.  He had a varied number of jobs over the years from working loading sugar on the docks, to doing electrical work, and working for Uniroyal on the chemical structure of tires and even writing a groundbreaking paper on the recycling of tires. He had a very successful career at General Electric in Polymers. Bob retired from General Electric where he was an Automotive Marketing executive.  At GE Plastics he was one of the trailblazers, along with his friends and coworkers, who brought polymers to the exterior body of cars. His work included getting plastics in headlamps and exterior body panels.  Bob was an instrumental part of the team that developed fenders and quarter panels on the polymer exterior of GM’s Saturn vehicle.  Bob loved cars, especially the antique muscle cars.  He could tell you the make and model with just a glance. He loved to get together with the guys and talk about cars.

In his younger years Bob sailed with his family on Lake St. Clair.  He loved to be near the water and often traveled to Sarasota. It was one of his favorite places. Bob also loved to learn.  He was an avid reader.  He loved to share what he had read and if you were on Bob’s email list or a contact in Messenger you could expect articles about all kind of news and new ideas

Bob had  a huge impact on so many. He was truly a kind, loving and gentle soul.  He took on the fatherly role and cared greatly for all the people in his life.  He will be greatly missed by all, but mostly by his daughters Amy and Deirdre, as well as by his extended family.  If you knew Bob, you became family to him.

A Celebration of Life will happen later this summer. In lieu of flowers, Bob’s family requests donations be made to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen which he supported regularly. Capuchin Soup Kitchen