Robert Owen Mcmahon

Robert Owen McMahon, (80), of Northville, Michigan, passed away on January 3, 2023.

Robert, fondly known as Bob, was born to William and Irene McMahon, on January 24 ^th , 1942 in Unionville, Connecticut.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years Bonnie, and his sons Kevin and John (Ashley), and his grandchildren Riley and Caden. He is also survived by his brothers William (Terese) and Patrick (Louise) along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father William and mother Irene, and his brother Bernard.

Bob loved the Northeast where he was born. He went to college at the University of Connecticut where he majored in Political Science. He paid his way through college holding various jobs including bowling alley pin setter, tobacco picker, grocery bagger and butcher, always with a smile on his face. He then moved to the Midwest where he served in AmeriCorps, while active in the civil rights movement, before moving to Detroit to attend graduate school at Wayne State University.

Bob became a lifelong Detroit supporter and worked until his retirement at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). Sneaking out of work with Dad to get Superman ice cream, although he preferred coffee ice cream more than most, was a favorite reason to go to work with him for his sons.

Bob helped ensure his family experienced the many great places and events the city offered including Detroit’s neighborhoods, auto shows, Grand Prix, fireworks, concerts, and instilling a love of Detroit sports with his boys. Going to the Red Wings and Tigers games were a family tradition, including the 1984 World Series clinching game 5.

In addition, Bob was a Northville School Board member for 12 years and served as President for two, as well as being a key member of the Northville Township Zoning Board of Appeals and the Area Agency on Aging.

Bob was a caring and kind man. His love of singing, dancing and laughing was contagious. He spent his entire career in the pursuit of helping the community in which he lived and worked. His family was how he spent his time away from work. He never missed a hockey, baseball or football game that Kevin or John participated in, and frequently was the only "class dad" joining his kids on school field trips. Bob always had time to spend with his family.

Aside from his passion for community service, Bob enjoyed travel with his family. Over the years, their travels took them across the US and the world. Bob always enjoyed taking his family back to New York City to bring them to musicals and plays on Broadway. The family also traveled through Ireland, much of Europe, as well as Costa Rica for the marriage of John and Ashley.

Bob’s family will be hosting Memorial Visitation on Friday, January 13, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. with a Memorial Service at 5:00 p.m. at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research , PO Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741 or The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) , 200 Vesey St., 28 ^th Floor, New York, NY 10281 in Bob’s name.