Robert F. Mitrione

Robert F. Mitrione, 93, of West Chester, PA, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Hamilton, Ohio, he was the son of the late Robert D. Mitrione and Helen K. Mitrione (nee Schultheiss) and the husband to Beth Mitrione (nee Novak).

Robert, whom many called Bob, Mr. Mit and Bobby, spent his childhood in Hamilton, Ohio before going to University of Miami in Oxford, OH where he met his wife of 70 years, Beth. Bob accepted a NROTC scholarship while at Miami, and after graduation was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He had a distinguished career in the Marines, having spent six years in active duty and twenty-two years in the Marine Corps reserves, which earned him the rank of Colonel before retiring in 1984.

While in the Marines, Beth and Bob moved all over the country before eventually settling down in Media, PA. Bob worked for many years as the director of human resources at Rose Tree Media School District, and even volunteered as the Driving Instructor for students in the District, which provided his friends and family with countless stories from the road. Always eager to learn more, Bob earned his MBA at the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania while working full-time. While at Wharton, he wrote a thesis on the benefits of companies self-funding employee health insurance. This concept was unheard of at the time, but it is now still widely used. In 1975, he founded the insurance brokerage, Hillendale Associates, where he was incredibly successful in providing employee benefits to public school districts in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Mit always loved helping other people, whether it be volunteering his time to recruit students to Miami or Teachers to Rose Tree, writing letters of recommendation for his friends and their friends, or donating his extra vegetables he grew to the food bank, he was constantly thinking of others.

Bob enjoyed spending time with his children and their families, and he absolutely loved watching his grandkids grow up. He and Beth spent so much time with their grandkids, that even their grandkid’s friends called them by their grandparent names.

He also loved spending time at his and Beth’s shore house in Avalon and was proud of their little slice of heaven. Sitting on the deck watching people go by, or talking to their neighbors, brought him great joy.

He was an avid coin collector, reader, and historian. He loved working on crossword puzzles, watching old western movies, swimming in Partridge lake in NH, telling stories, cheering on Philly sports teams, listening to Benny Goodman, and growing the best vegetables that he could share with his friends.

While his vacation spots and hobbies were wonderful, he greatly enjoyed spending time with his wife of nearly 70 years, Beth.

Bobby was the beloved husband of Beth Mitrione (nee Novak); loving father of Betsy Walsh (Joseph) and Michael Mitrione (Diane); adoring grandfather of Kyle Mitrione (Karolina), Jason Mitrione, Julia Kinch (Patrick), and Jennifer Walsh, and most recently, the great-grandfather of Cameron Joseph Kinch; dear brother of Betty Zinn.

Relatives and friends are invited to Bob’s Visitation 9:30-11:00 AM Saturday, July 27, 2024 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-431-9000, followed by his Funeral Service at 11:00 AM. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Media, PA.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bob’s name to West Chester Food Cupboard: https://westchesterfoodcupboard.org/ or to The Gary Sinise Foundation, https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/.