Obituary of Robert L. Gates

Robert L. Gates, of Penfield, NY, died on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at the Aaron Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. He was 94. Bob was born in Baltimore, MD, in 1925, and was raised in Syracuse, NY, where he graduated from Cathedral High School. After serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II, he moved to the Rochester area where he attended Rochester Institute of Technology, married and raised four children in the Penfield area. He retired in 1991 after nearly forty years in the menswear and imprinted sportswear business.

Bob is survived by daughter Karen (Ed Cook) of Conquest, NY, two sons Bob, Jr. (Gay Lynn), of North East, MD, and James of Brooklyn, NY, and daughter-in-law, Anne Bradner, of Harrison, NY, as well as four grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Patricia; his youngest son, Steven, and by his three older brothers Albert S. Gates, Jr., of Milton and South Dennis, MA, William C. Gates of Basking Ridge, NJ, and John C. Gates of Cazenovia, NY.

An accomplished athlete throughout his life, Bob was a star player for Cathedral High School baseball and basketball; a left-handed pitching ace for the Chicago White Sox minor league affiliate, the Auburn Cayugas, during the late 1940s; and played basketball for R.I.T. in the early 1950s. He was also passionate about golf and fishing, and was a life-long fan of Syracuse University football and basketball. During his working years in the clothing business, Bob held senior positions with E.W. Edwards & Sons, Champion, and Artex USA.

A loving brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather, Bob will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Visiting hours will be held at Jennings, Nulton & Mattle Funeral Home, 1704 Penfield Road, Penfield, on Friday, December 20, from 4:00-7:00pm.

A funeral service will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, 43 Gebhardt Road, Penfield, on Saturday, December 21, at 11:00am, followed by a graveside ceremony at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Road, Pittsford.

In lieu of flowers, please kindly consider a charitable contribution to:

Veterans Outreach Center

447 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620