Posted by Bobby Seigle, Jr. on April 13, 2025:

My dad joined LinkedIn when it first began as a social media platform some years ago. LinkedIn's mission was to help workers connect virtually instead of passing business cards. You were only supposed to connect to people you knew. Of course, Bob Seigle sent invites to anyone and everyone he found remotely interesting! Their response was always the same... "Do I know you?" Only My Dad could have the wit to answer back... "No but if you did, you'd like me." Well, Dad, we did all know you and we did all like you! My dad was my confidant, my hero, my friend, my mentor, my advisor, my counselor, my rebuker, my therapist, my boss, my coach, and my aspiration. He was a devoted husband, a comforting father and a larger-than-life Grandpa. And he, 'til his last day on earth, absolutely despised referees. Only My Dad, as a young boy, would whistle [mimic whistling] and duck behind the driver's seat of his stern father as they drove past an attractive young lady walking down the street. And Only My Dad could get a chuckle out of that gristled old vet, affectionately named, "Happy Harry." Harry contracted Scarlet Fever during the Great War was told he'd never have kids. Well, Bob was the sixth child born to his parents, Harry and Cordelia! Bob's brothers and sisters, a group of four separated by 8 years from the group of three, were an eclectic bunch. The siblings included a 2-star general, a farm hand, a pupil who married a former teacher, a sister who died too young, a sister who battled ALS and a brother who struggled mightily with mental illness. How Bob Seigle ended up the man he did, is part mystery and part providence. He admired those who came before him and he led, with a full heart, those who came after. It is traits like those he would carry for the entirety of his life: Take from the good and discard the bad. Only My Dad could be the athlete of the year in his Cincinnati High School, Mt Healthy, turning down scholarship opportunities to Memphis State and Louisville, to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point where he would play basketball for Tates Locke and a 24-year-old Bobby Knight. Dad always joked "you should have seen Coach Knight in his younger years, before he calmed down and matured at Indiana!" Only My Dad could graduate middle of his West Point class, one that was marred by the single most casualties in the Vietnam War and where the ground force reigned supreme, and choose to be...an aviator. He graduated near the top of his flight school class but ended up at the bottom of the list for assignments when the class rankings were faxed in reverse order to the Army Personnel Department. In true Bob Seigle fashion, after being alerted to the mistake, he hopped on a plane for DC to meet, unbeknownst to him, the one person in the Army he could not charm, who told him "when I want your opinion, I'll ask for it." So, away he went to Vietnam as a newly trained aviation maintenance officer! Of all the things my dad openly and honestly discussed, he did not speak of his time in Vietnam, often, if at all. It was a subject my family touched but never pressed. Only My Dad would leave Vietnam ready to depart the military as soon as possible and interview with Ross Perot - yes that Ross Perot. And Only My Dad would turn down an opportunity [dang it dad!] with Perot to pursue law school at Yale and Harvard. While he was accepted into both, he was ultimately told Ivy League Schools would not welcome any military personnel on their campus. So Only My Dad would identify the next best alternative as the University of Utah, where he studied leadership under a renowned professor. He used that experience to lead him back to West Point to teach. While at West Point, Only My Dad would incessantly try to convince the basketball hiring committee to interview a relatively unknown grad assistant from Indiana for the head coaching position. That grad assistant happened to be Mike Krzyzewski, who we all know as Coach K. After departing West Point, Only My Dad could be instrumental in helping create the Army's newest branch -- Aviation. As one of the branch's first commanders, Bob Seigle led troops into combat tours in Grenada, Panama and Desert Storm. He culminated his career as Chief of Staff of the Army Aviation branch. With true grace and humility, Only My Dad would accept his career would end without a star on his shoulder and move forward to a new life, away the Army he expected to leave after Vietnam, some 26 years earlier. My dad was admired, feared, respected, and universally loved in the military. My mom loves the song 'Soldier Boy' and while basketball was my dad's passion, the Army was his calling. Those who served for, with and above him continue to sing his praises to this day. As a testament to the leader he was, he transitioned flawlessly into the Defense Industry, carving out a new career with a company out of Belfast, Northern Ireland and ultimately teaming up with his former boss, who also just passed away on October 6th, to start their own company, Continental Consulting Group Corporation, aka CCGC. CCGC will celebrate its 25th anniversary in February of 2025. If his teammates, friends, soldiers and bosses loved him, you must know that only a man like that could find his identity in raising his kids. My sisters had the luck of knowing my dad at an earlier age than me. They camped, drove open highways, talked Dutch ['hurpty durpty'] to get directions and while they had to share him, they were raised at the most vibrant time in his life. I, on the other hand, was the "mistake." But, man, do wish I had the chance to see him raise his girls! It's hard for me to believe, given how old they are now, they were once little girls my dad doted on as a proud father should. They share wonderful memories of traveling the world, eating donuts on Saturday mornings, and watching my dad rewrite all their English papers....weelllllll... I guess that's one thing we all have in common. Only My Dad could raise three girls, separated by 5 years total, and make them each feel individually special. He had a unique skill in that way. He was stern but never abusive. He was disciplined but always up for a laugh. He cared deeply, he loved affectionately and most of all, he was just kind. We all felt that way about him, but Only My Dad could be the best father and an even better grandpa. Starting with Mikey, who was taken from us way too soon, he absolutely adored his grandkids. He was so proud of Joey, graduating with a professional chemistry degree and serving his country as an Army officer. [Look at Joey] And he loved that he got to see you become a proud husband and father. He was so proud of Josh, following his Seigle and Musiol roots by attending West Point, all while overcoming multiple injuries and a tortuous Firstie year under COVID restrictions. [Look at Josh] And he loved how dumb you can act despite how smart you really are. He was so proud of Elijah's passion for competitiveness, challenging himself to play college basketball with the weight of his father's legacy resting heavy on his shoulders. [Look at Elijah] And he loved your unwavering confidence and positive attitude towards life. He was so proud of Will's shooting ability, his determination to be an accounting major with honors and his resilience in the face of adversity. [Look at Will] And he loved your laugh, especially cackling at yourself and your cousins every summer. He was so proud of Trey's defense and making the tough decision to move 1500 miles from home to play hoops and play Army in Texas. [Look at Trey] And he loved the energy and enthusiasm you bring to a room. He was so proud of Gracie's desire to seek adventure and for her maturation into a caring "big sister" to her younger cousins. [Look at Grace] And he loved your spark...and the charm you lay on so thick! He was so proud of Caroline's volleyball prowess and how she pushed herself to become the Salutatorian in her high school. [Look at Caroline] And he loved your smile, seeing you happy and lighting up a room. He was so proud of Jenny's gymnastics abilities and her willingness to try new things, like basketball and volleyball, with almost no experience leading into it. [Look at Jenny] And he loved your constant giggling and watching you in a new role as "Aunt Jenny." He was so proud of Micah going against the grain in his family by playing soccer, blazing a path in club and HS that will eventually lead to a college roster. [Look at Micah] And he loved your personality. He even loved your hair, even if he said he didn't! He was so proud of Elizabeth's athleticism and admired her unwavering ability to spend hours in the ocean seemingly without a care in the world. [Look at Elizabeth] And he loved your grit, your spunk and your to-the-point demeanor. He was so proud of Sophie's commitment to dance and how every summer she did her level-best to keep up with her older cousins. [Look at Sophie] And he loved your kind spirit, sweet smile and soft heart. He lamented to me on more than one occasion, as his health declined, how he wished he could have traveled more to see all his grandkids' activities. Good news for all of you, he'll be able to watch all your future accomplishments from above! Mom, only a man like dad could be all these things to all these people, with a wife who loved him as much as he loved life. The sacrifices you made in the Army were equaled in these past several years during Dad's health challenges. When I was a boy, I read the notes he left for you in the morning. I heard him call you to check in throughout the day. I witnessed, on too many occasions, him passionately (and disgustingly) hold you tight to kiss you. I heard him thank you for dinner even when you told us it needed salt. I saw him grab your hand on a walk even when you were mad at him. And almost everyone has seen you two snuggled up in your tiny sleigh bed taking naps. You met one of the most extraordinary men on a chance encounter, an extrovert on steroids who kept you guessing and laughing through the entirety of your marriage. I know Bob Seigle was everything you hoped you'd find in a spouse and Only My Dad could be that man. No doubt, he loved you until his last breath. Our family is grateful for the example he set as a husband of...56?...or 57 years? Bob Seigle's life, passions and love were completely interwoven with his Christian faith. He studied it and taught it. He spoke about it and defended it. Most importantly on this earth and most importantly for all of you attending this service, he modeled it for his friends and family. I know his faith has been witnessed by all in this room, so I'd ask you to reflect on that as you leave today. Only My Dad would spend hours each day crafting a devotion to be shared with his church family, his work colleagues and his friends. Only My Dad would join committee after committee, board after board to serve his Savior. I've heard it said 1000 times from a pulpit - when a man's time on earth is done and he is judged by his Creator, will the Lord say he did all he could with what he was given? Simply put, my dad exemplified his Savior in his time on earth. There's a couple more "Only My Dad" sayings I want to end with...but I want to make this more like a responsive reading, similar to a Jeff Foxworthy "you might be a redneck" joke. Let's practice, when I point at you, you all say "only Bob Seigle" and I'll read a response. Only Bob Seigle...could mow Happy Harry's grass wrong and have Harry attack him with the lawnmower. Only Bob Seigle...could woo my mom out of a long-term relationship with a guy named Hanz. And by the way, who would want a dad named Hanz? Only Bob Seigle...could ooooooonly then....marry my mom at one of the most elegant locations in the world... the intersection of I-95S and US501...a place we know from the billboards that lead you there. Oh yes, only Bob Seigle would elope with his bride at a little ol' place that Pedro calls "South of the Border." Only Bob Seigle...could hit multiple pedestrians while driving in NYC and Washington DC and never get arrested for it...for those of you who shared a car with him, consider yourself lucky to be here! Only Bob Seigle...could beat Bob Seigle's all-time Tetris score on his Gameboy he took with him everywhere...and I mean...everywhere. Only Bob Seigle...rarely, if ever, drank or cursed, and yet never passed judgement on those who did. Only Bob Seigle...loved every dog in our family and pretty much every other one he encountered on the street! Only Bob Seigle...would answer your phone call in the middle of a meeting, if you were family. Only Bob Seigle...would have a Bible so full of highlights and notes, it belongs in a museum! Only Bob Seigle...would recite the Deadman Rules to his kids after one of them got into trouble..."If you don't want it read, don't write it, if you don't want it heard, don't say it and if you don't want it seen, don't do it." Only Bob Seigle...went to Ace Hardware....just for the popcorn. Last one! Only Bob Seigle...could be my dad. And oh what a dad he was.

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