Bob Boger: Friends mourn loss, remember union leader

Update: April 14, 2008 - An obituary for Robert L. Boger appeared in Saturday's Sandusky Register.

Today, OCSEA activists from around the state are mourning the loss of OCSEA Board of Directors Member Bob Boger. Boger, a Board of Directors member for District 3 since 1999 and an employee of Ohio Veterans Home, was a tireless and outspoken proponent of working families and the union movement.

He had been active in the union for 22 years, coming up from the membership ranks by becoming first a steward, then holding every office in his chapter and eventually becoming a member of OCSEA's State Board.

He was a role model to many of his fellow employees at the Ohio Veterans Home to whom Bob taught the value of union solidarity and activism. Bob was helped in his union work by colleagues and friends, Vanessa Brown and Carolyn Smith, as well as many others. He considered his work with veterans an honor and often fought for their rights as well as those of union members.

Treasurer of OVH Chapter Bill Kessler worked closely with Bob and was a personal friend. Both men were avid fishermen: "He was a long time employee and worked on our floor, 2 South, for years. We were like a family. Bob's had a long career as a union activist and standing up for the workers. He didn't always side with the consensus. He raised the questions no one wanted to raise. It was a thankless job. He always stood up for the members and always had the best interests of the members at heart. He will be missed greatly."

Staff Representative Robby Robinson and long-time friend had this to say about Bob: "Bob was the epitome of a true unionist. He believed in doing things as right as he could. He was everything that a unionist is supposed to stand for. That's what he fought for."

OCSEA President Eddie L. Parks worked with Bob for years on OCSEA's Board of Directors: "When I was the Chair of the Board's Judicial and Internal Affairs Committee, Bob and I had many long and stimulating conversations about OCSEA's constitution and bylaws. Bob and I had golfing in common, too. He was a good union man and he will be sorely missed."

The other District 3 Board of Directors member Dave Bailey was also close to Bob: "He was my friend and union brother. We worked side-by-side since he was on the board. He was on the arbitration committee for a term or two and we had a lot of good union discussions then. He will be sadly missed at the board, at the chapter, at the district, and assembly level. He participated in all of it."

OCSEA / MH/MR/OVH Assembly President Monty Blanton has been a friend and colleague of Bob's for over a decade: "I considered Bob to be one my most important mentors. Bob was always about serving the membership. Nothing was self-motivated. He was always there to lend advice and guidance. I will miss him as my colleague, but I will mostly miss him as a friend."

Bob is survived by wife Kathy Boger and her family as well as Bob's brother Denny Boger and sister-in-law Jan who all loved and supported Bob. Bob's wife Kathy is also an OCSEA member employed at Veterans Home. He is also survived by many, many friends and union activists who cared about him.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions in Bob's memory be sent to Stein Hospice, 1912 Hayes Ave., Sandusky, OH 44870.

Please use the blog comment feature to share positive memories of long-time leader and our dear friend, Bob Boger.