Robert R. Greenblatt

Robert Russell Greenblatt was born in Rockford, Illinois on August 16, 1930, and he passed away on August 7, 2025 surrounded by his wife, Harriet. He raised a family and built a thriving business in Rockford. His good humor, witty storytelling, and wry observations about life will be missed.

Bob was born to Solomon Greenblatt and Marie Corbett during the Depression. He had dreams of becoming an astronomer or a zoologist, but reality sent him on another path. He graduated from East High School in 1948 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 as the Korean War began. He served for four years in the States and at a base five miles behind active front lines outside of Seoul. He was assigned to the medical group of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron dealing with critically wounded servicemen.

After his discharge in 1954, he started college at the Milwaukee School of Engineering on the GI Bill, and graduated in 1956 with a degree in Applied Sciences. He married Harriet Marelli, daughter of Fran and Elizabeth Marelli, on June 16, 1956 and they welcomed their first child, Ann Marie, in 1957. Robert Samuel came along in 1960, and Gail Elizabeth rounded out the family in 1964. Shortly thereafter, the Greenblatts moved from Rockford to Loves Park and built a home along the Rock River.

Bob bought into Miller Engineering in 1961, a company specializing in air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration. Over the next 40 years, he designed and installed systems for factories, manufacturing plants, public buildings, and hundreds of residences. In 1965, he joined the national Sheet Metal Association, serving as president of the board of directors for several years. He was eventually elected to the Sheet Metal Industries College of Fellows, an elite group of 60 of the 5000 members. He also believed in the Rockford business community and served on the Mayor’s Council of 100 for a number of years.

While he loved his work, family life and leisure time were equally important. During his life, he played almost every sport, loved horseback riding and jumping, earned a black belt in karate, became a deep-sea diver, and played the guitar and drums. He loved Dixieland music and jazz, and took up playing the washboard, a percussion instrument, and eventually performed with Steamboat Willie’s renowned band on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street.

Fishing and boating were the real joys of his life. He caught hundreds of fish — primarily muskies — in the rivers and lakes of Illinois and Wisconsin and enjoyed deep sea fishing too. Bob and Harriet also traveled extensively throughout their lives, taking many cruises and excursions to places ranging from Africa to Tahiti.

Bob Greenblatt will be remembered by many for his simple philosophy of life, his sense of humor, and his devotion to his family and the city he loved.

His survivors include: Harriet, his wife of 69 years; his children, Ann and husband Mike Maitzen, Robert and partner Stephen Loguidice, and Gail and husband Jon Schommer; granddaughter Michaela Maitzen Austin, her husband, Ken, and their children, Robert and Ben; grandson Zachariah Maitzen, his wife, Theresa, and their children, James, Elaina, and Jillian; and Bob’s brother, Matthew and wife Sally.

A visitation for Bob will take place from 9:30 until the time of funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave., Rockford IL, 61103. His entombment will follow at Calvary Catholic Mausoleum where military honors will take place. The family was assisted by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory. To share memories online, please visit, www.fitzgeraldfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association.