Robert W. “Bob” Gray, 82, of North Ridgeville, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Friday November 5, 2021 at St. John Medical Center in Westlake. He was born in Cleveland on February 27, 1939 and had resided in North Ridgeville for 50 years. He attended John Adams High School in Cleveland and spent his senior year at Gordon Military Academy in Barnesville, GA from where he graduated in 1956. Bob received his Bachelor’s degree in 1960 from Western Reserve University in Cleveland where he served as the slowest Pulling Guard on their football team, and his Juris Doctor degree from Ohio Northern University in 1965. Bob opened his own law practice, Robert W. Gray and Associates in 1979 in North Ridgeville. He faithfully served his community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, fulfilling a total of 56 years of the practice of law in all the surrounding counties. His proudest moment in his long career was being admitted to the US Supreme Court in 2004. Bob attended Hope Christian Church in Avon. He enjoyed the arts, musicals, playing the piano, racquetball and scuba diving. Two times Bob participated in and greatly enjoyed The GOBA (Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure). Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Diane (nee Merella) in 2003. Together, Bob and Diane had three sons, Rob Gray Jr. of North Olmsted, David Gray (Kim) of Sheffield Lake and Todd Gray (Lora) of Cincinnati; and four grandchildren, Alexandra, Christian, Noah and Ethan. Bob is also survived by his second wife of 13 years who was a great blessing to him, Patricia (nee Farr); two step-children, Bradley Loving (Karen) of Doylestown, PA and Christine Levicki (Christopher) of Avon Lake; five step-grandchildren, Austin, David, Madeline, Alexandria and Kathryn; his sister, Jean Gray-Van Treese (Bill) of Villa Rica, GA; and two brothers-in-law, Pete Merella (Elaine) “Uncle Pete” of Cleveland and Bart Merella (Eileen) of Bowie, MD. He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Julia (nee Sprock) Gray. The family will receive friends on Wednesday November 10, 2021 from 4 to 8pm at the Liston Funeral Home, 36403 Center Ridge Rd., (at Stoney Ridge Rd.), North Ridgeville. The funeral service will be Thursday November 11, 2021 at 10am at Hope Christian Church, 32625 Detroit Rd., Avon. Pastor Bob Bauer will officiate the service. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Avon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to University Hospitals St. John Medical Center for breast cancer research at uhgiving.org (216-983-2200).
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