Robert T. (Bob) Siar, 85, of Glenshaw, Pa. passed away at his home surrounded by family on Friday, March 2, 2018 while under the care of Good Samaritan Hospice. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Susan (better known as Sue in USWOA); loving father of Robert M. (Cheryl), Tom Siar and Kim Johnson; cherished grandfather of Chelsea and Andrew Siar and Samantha and Justin Johnson.
“Bob Siar is one of the great mentors in our sport. He led and mentored so many people within the sport of wrestling for so many years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time. Our sport has truly lost a great one today,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
Friends will be received from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 4 at the Neely Funeral Home at 2208 Mount Royal Blvd. in Glenshaw.
Funeral services will be on Monday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m. at the Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, 3200 Mount Royal Blvd. in Glenshaw. Lunch will be served following the service. Internment private.
He was a graduate of Slippery Rock University (1955) where he lettered in football and swimming. He taught and coached 42 years in Pennsylvania Public Schools. He served as assistant coach of football, basketball and track at Kane H.S. (1955-1957). and Johnsonburg H.S. (1957-1960) before becoming a head coach.
As head coach, Siar led the football, and track programs at Brookville H.S. (1960-1965). In 1961 he started the wrestling program at Brookville H.S. and continued until 1965 when he became the head wrestling coach at Shaler H.S. In 1965 he also became an assistant football and track coach at Shaler.
As a wrestling coach, he compiled a 315- 108-7 record in 29 seasons. He was WPIAL Coach of the Year in 1974 after leading Shaler to its first WPIAL title. He also guided Shaler H. S. (1979) and Hampton Area H.S. (1993) to state PIAA runner-up finishes in wrestling. He was president of the WPIAL Coaches Assoc. from 1968-75 and was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993. He retired as a teacher and coach in 1997.
Bob joined USA Wrestling Officials Organization (USWOA) in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling in 1979. He was selected as the Pennsylvania Wrestling Official of the Year 1984 and Pennsylvania Wrestling Man of the Year in 1985. In 1995 he was named USWOA Official of the Year.
He was a USWOA category I and FILA International Wrestling Official. He officiated every Northeast Junior Championship from 1977-2007. He chaired many USWOA Committees and served as FILA Secretariat to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the 1998 Junior World Championships in Primm, Nev. and the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia.
For his outstanding service to others he has received numerous “Outstanding Official” and “Outstanding Contribution” Awards. He has officiated all levels of USWOA competitions, including local, state, regional and national tournaments. He was a clinician of USAREUR Wrestling officials and championships in Germany (1990-2000). He was a member of the USWOA Executive Board from 1988-2007. In 2000, Bob received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from USWOA and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. as an Outstanding Official. He retired from the USWOA in 2007.
Along with his wife Sue, Bob was named 1999 USA Wrestling Junior Division Leaders of the Year. Sue was a nationally and internationally respected pairing official, who served as USA Wrestling’s Chief Pairing Official for many years. Bob Siar was also named to the Slippery Rock University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Away from wrestling, Bob was a devoted family man. He was an Eagle Scout and recipient of the “God and Country Award,” the first time for these accomplishments in his hometown of Brookville, Pa. He was honored in 1958 by Johnsonburg Area Schools for saving the life of a student. He was also honored in 1989 by PHEAA for outstanding contributions to Pennsylvania Education and received the Shaler Area Schools “American Teacher Award” three successive years, 1987-89.