Obituary of Robert Jerome Gornbein

It is with great sadness, and fondest remembrance, that we announce the passing of Robert Jerome Gornbein of Denver, Colorado, aged 95, of natural causes, on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023.

Robert was born in Niagara Falls, NY in January 1928, in a bygone era of the “Honeymoon Capital” of the world. Though talented in baseball, young Bob entered the Army in 1946, serving in occupied Japan after WW II. Upon returning, he ventured West and earned a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Denver, where he met his future wife, Miss Elayne Katchen, of Denver. After living for a few years in Niagara Falls, Bob and his family returned to the Denver area, where he spent the remainder of his life. 

Bob is survived by three children, Gordon Gornbein of Tucson, Arizona, Randall Gornbein, of Clayton, Missouri, and Jodi Marynowski (nee’ Gornbein) of Centennial Colorado; as well as two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

A jack-of-all-trades, Bob put his skills to work in a family vacation RV/Mobile home park, as a line foreman at a General Motors assembly plant in Buffalo, a bowling alley manager, driving a taxi, and working for a rental car company, among many other occupations. He was a lover of classic cars, and was proud of driving and showing off his restored 1958 Studebaker Silver Hawk. In retirement, when he could have begun slowing down, Bob volunteered for the U.S. Peace Corps, going on a two-year assignment to the Dominican Republic at the age of 62. He also volunteered for many years at a non-profit in Denver named “Project Cure.” One passion he always pursued was repairing and maintaining fine clocks, and he worked for many years in a clock shop in Denver.

His dry wit, unfiltered opinions, and enduring love for family and friends will be long remembered.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s name to the Peace Corps Partnership Program Global Fund, at: https://www.peacecorps.gov/donate/global-fund-spf-gbl/.

Per his wishes, Bob will be cremated and a private family ceremony will be held at a later date.