By the Family

Jan. 18, 2017:  Robert Spenik died on January 15, 2017. He was 83 years old. Robert ("Bob") was born on November 17, 1933, in Gates, PA, to Mary and Alec Spenik. He was one of nine children.

He received his undergraduate degree from Morris Harvey College (University of Charleston) and his master's degree from Columbia University.

In college, Bob was captain of the football team, winning several bowl games and championships, and was selected as one of eleven "all-time football team" members for Morris Harvey College. He was inducted into the University of Charleston (Morris Harvey) Golden Eagle Football Hall of Fame in 1995, and in 1998 he was inducted into Washington-Green County Chapter "Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame."  

Robert began his teaching career as a math teacher and football coach at Poca High School in Poca, West Virginia. He later taught and coached football at Tuckahoe High School. The majority of his career (30+ years) was with the Bronxville High School as coach, teacher, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent of the Bronxville schools. 

In the 1960s, Bob had an outstanding coaching career. In Bronxville he had a 37-consecutive-football-game winning streak and a win/loss record of 52-4. He was awarded Coach of the Year in 1964, 1965, 1967, and 1969 (NY Daily News, NY Tribune, Westchester County) and top high school coach in the Northeast.  

Bob was such a positive role model to his family, friends, and so many football players, high school students, and school administrators over the years. On April 9, 2016, more than 100 people came together at Siwanoy Country Club to honor and celebrate Coach Bob Spenik, BHS varsity football coach from 1963-1969. There was at least one captain present from each team he coached, along with former players, assistant coaches, cheerleaders, twirlers, band members, students, faculty, staff, friends, and family.  

There is also an annual "Robert Spenik Football Award," which is currently still being presented to one Tuckahoe High School and one Bronxville High School student every year for exceptional play and competitive spirit at the annual Bronxville-Tuckahoe football game in his honor.

Bob Spenik lost his beloved wife, Draunta Lou Holstein, to whom he was married for 48 years, to cancer in 2008. He is survived by his son, Robert, and his wife, Linda; daughter, Christina, and her husband, John; and five grandchildren, Kristoffer, Alexander, and Sofia Spenik and Owen and Emily Butler. He is also survived by one brother, Ed Spenik, two sisters, Marlene Otonicar and Geraldine Straka, and several nieces and nephews. Bob was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.

Calling hours at the Fred H. McGrath & Son Funeral Home in Bronxville will be between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm and between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm on Thursday, January 19.  

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Church in Bronxville on Friday, January 20, at 9:45 am.    

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Robert Spenik's name to either The Bronxville School Foundation, 177 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY 10708, or Tuckahoe School Foundation, 65 Siwanoy Boulevard, Eastchester, NY 10709.