Robert James Kirk

Robert J. Kirk, a lifelong Toledo resident and well-known member of the Toledo business community during the second half of the 20th Century, died on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at Swan Creek Healthcare Center. He was 99. Born on April 23, 1913, Mr. Kirk was the son of former Toledo Postmaster Charles A. Kirk and Nina E. (Tonkin) Kirk. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grade School and St. John’s High School, and graduated from Toledo’s St. John’s College in 1934. He began his career in accounting in 1935 with the Toledo accounting firm of Wideman, Madden, Dolan & Co., which later merged with Arthur Young & Co. In January, 1944, he was admitted to practice as a Certified Public Accountant. He became a partner in Arthur Young & Co. (now Ernst & Young) in 1954, and was Managing Senior Partner of the Toledo office from 1959 until his retirement in 1975. For more than 30 years thereafter, Mr. Kirk was a self-employed tax, accounting, and financial consultant specializing in the valuation of closely-held companies. Mr. Kirk served twice on the Accountancy Board of Ohio, having first been appointed in 1950 by Ohio Governor Frank Lausche and again, in 1981, by Governor Richard Celeste. He also had been a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In the early 1970s, he was a member of the Administrative Study Committee to the Toledo Board of Education, as well as the Citizens Committee for Effective Government. Over the years, Mr. Kirk was active in a number of area firms and non-profit organizations. He was a Board member of Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Northwestern Ohio and served as its Chairman in 1981-82. For many years, he was President of Throm Supplies, Inc., and its affiliated companies. He was also a former President of the Toledo Mirror & Glass Co. He served on the Board and was at one time Vice President of the Toledo Area Regional Transportation Authority. For many years, he served on the Board of Trustees of the Toledo Automobile Club and was Treasurer of that organization. He was a Trustee of the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce and served as its Treasurer in 1978 and chairman of its presidential selection committee in 1981. He was a former Director / Trustee of the Toledo Trust Co., Champion Spark Plug Co., Dinner Bell Co., Gerity Broadcasting Co., the Harbor Growth Fund, Kiemle-Hankins Co., Broer-Freeman Co., the Mid-America Council on Economic Development, RIMA Manufacturing Co., Seneca Wire & Manufacturing Co, Seaway Food Town, Inc., Sparton Corporation, Seilon, Inc., Lake Shore Industries, Inc., Pilliod Cabinet Co., Smith Foundry, Charles Tiedtke Trust, Toledo Health and Retiree Center, Inc., and Therma-Tru Doors. In addition to his corporate affiliations, Mr. Kirk served several charitable causes. He was a member of the Bishop’s Finance Committee of the Catholic Diocese of Toledo for over 30 years. In addition, Mr. Kirk served at various times as a member of the Boards of the Catholic Club / Youth Department of the Diocese of Toledo, the Toledo Community Chest / United Way of Greater Toledo, Medical College of Ohio Foundation, Mary Manse College, the George F. Lonz Foundation, Toledo Community Foundation, Central Catholic High School, and Toledo Mercy Hospital. Mr. Kirk was a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church for over 85 years and served on its Finance Committee at various times. An avid golfer, he won several individual tournaments, including the Valleywood Club championship in the mid-1940s, as well as many father-son tournaments with son John. He was a member of both the Toledo Club and the Toledo Country Club for over 50 years and served on the Boards of each. He was also a member of the Rotary Club of Toledo for many years, and had been a member of the President’s Council of the Toledo Museum of Art. Mr. Kirk was predeceased by his wife Margaret Mary (Whelan) Kirk and his son James F. Kirk. He is survived by his children Thomas J. Kirk (Gretchen) of Germantown, TN, John E. Kirk of Sylvania, OH, Col. (Ret.) William C. Kirk of San Antonio, TX, Chaplain (Maj.) David R. Kirk of Fort Hood, TX, Margaret “Peggy” Ann Kirk of Sylvania, OH, and Marianne E. Merren (Jeffrey) of Oregon, OH; grandchildren Jennifer Dinoia (Peter) of Annandale, VA, Amanda Kirk of Germantown, TN, Kristin Kirk of Brisbane, Australia, James Kirk of Denver, CO, Andrew Kirk of New York City, and Robert, Chad, Maggie, Casey, and James Merren, of Oregon, OH; great-grandchildren Caitlin, Kelsey, and Nicholas Dinoia of Annandale, VA, and Izabella Kirk of Denver, CO. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Sunday, November 4, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Monday, November 5, from 2 to 8 p.m., with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Monday. The funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Interment will be private at Resurrection Cemetery. The family suggests that tributes be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Robert James Kirk

April 23, 1913 - October 31, 2012