Robert Frank York

Robert "Bob" York, 71, of West Chester, PA, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. 

Born in Mount Carmel, PA, in 1951, Bob was the son of the late Frank and Grace (née Persing) York. He was a decorated athlete at Mount Carmel Area High School, where he kicked 43 extra points in the Red Tornadoes undefeated 1968 campaign and became the first-ever State Indoor Champion in the high jump, with a record-setting 6’ 2’’ performance in the spring of 1969.

Bob’s athletic achievements continued 90 miles west of Mount Carmel, where he earned eight varsity letters during a four-year tenure with East Stroudsburg University’s Division II football and track teams. His successes with the Warriors – which included a career-best 42-yard field goal and 6’ 6 ½’’ high jump – cemented his place as a 2003 inductee into the Ed Romance Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame.

Bob’s most hall-of-fame-worthy performance came several years after hanging up his cleats, when, as a young salesman at ZEP Manufacturing, he arranged an 800-mile blind date with a young woman he had spoken with only once by phone. Bob’s life was forever changed when he met Janice Lynne Cummings in the winter of 1983. He proposed just two weeks later, and the two were married by spring. Two short years later, Bob and Janice welcomed their son, Cody Alan York.

For the next nearly four decades, Bob lived a life of unwavering commitment to his family, to his friends who became family, and to the traditions that bonded them together. He never missed a Trivial Pursuit game on Christmas Eve, a Pocono golf trip with the Bigs and Littles, a sandwich at the Cheese Shop after the Woodland’s Open in Williamsburg, VA, a 2-footer at the Tornado Golf Scramble, or a chance to tell anyone who would listen just exactly who the all-time winningest team in Pennsylvania high school football history is (Mount Carmel).

Bob was an all-time storyteller, the consummate speech-giver, and a wonderful conversationalist. He was laugh-out-loud funny in everyday conversation. He loved reading the newspaper and eating Mattucci’s pizza. He was the character of all characters, and the best husband, father, and friend anyone could hope to have. He will be so dearly missed.

Bob is survived by his wife, Janice, and his son, Cody (Laura). He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Nancy Perkins.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Wednesday, December, 28^th at 11 a.m. at Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the Red Tornado Touchdown Club via Venmo, or by mailing a check payable to [Red Tornado Touchdown Club] to 579 Wilburton Road, Mount Carmel, PA 17851 OR the ESU Warrior Football Club via their website (the Warrior Football Club is already designated - please scroll half way down the page for the gift information).