BGSU professor enjoyed travel, attending sports

6/4/2006

BOWLING GREEN - Robert "Bob" A. Holmes, 58, a corporate attorney and a retired Bowling Green State University professor, died of apparent heart failure Tuesday at Wood County Hospital.

Listed in Who's Who in the World, Mr. Holmes, who was on the forefront of equal opportunity law studies, consulted for corporations nationally and internationally, his daughter, Wesley Konesky, said.

He retired from BGSU in 2000 after 23 years of teaching Constitutional, employment, equal opportunity, and contracting law in the college of business' legal studies department, where he was a faculty member.

Mr. Holmes took pride in being active in faculty life.

He was a former BGSU Faculty Senate chair, a former faculty senator, and served on various committees.

"He was a congenial person, and he really enjoyed people and really enjoyed teaching. I remember his students saying his courses were hard but fun," Mrs. Konesky said.

A native of Aliquippa, Pa., Mr. Holmes graduated from Hopewell High School, Hopewell, Pa., in 1965. He attended the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va., graduating in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences.

Three years later, he received his law degree from William & Mary's Marshall-Wythe school of law.

He married Linda Freeman in 1970, and 20 years later they were divorced.

In his free time, Mr. Holmes enjoyed traveling and attending sporting events.

Mr. Holmes attended Westside Community Church in Toledo and was a former member of Agape Congregational Church and Dayspring Assembly of God Church, both in Bowling Green.

His other memberships included the Sigma Nu Fraternity, the National Association of Purchasing Managers, and the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International.

Surviving are his mother, Nellie; daughters, Wesley Konesky and Ashley Holmes-Stuart; brothers, Leroy, Jr., and David; sister, Roxanne DiTomasso, and a granddaughter.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today at the Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home, Bowling Green, where the visitation will be after 1 p.m. today.