Robert L. Hinman died peacefully in his sleep at Auburn Memorial Hospital on March 15, 2021. Born to Floyd and Lucy Duffy Hinman on March 14, 1932, he turned 89 a day before passing.
Bob graduated from Jordan High School, went to Ohio Wesleyan for one year and served in the Air Force during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. Returning home, he went to work for the New York Telephone Company, retiring after 38 years in 1992. He was an avid sportsman. Fishing brought him an award in 1966 for an 8 pound, 1&1/2 oz. landlocked salmon and he had a number of other catches worthy of newspaper coverage. He belonged to the Syracuse Chargers and Onondaga Cycling Club, entering and winning a number of races in both running and cycling. His favorite races were the Corporate Challenge, Auburn’s Great Race, Baldwinsville’s Turkey Trot and cross-country skiing in the Tug Hill Race. Retirement gave him time during the day for running and biking and he was a familiar sight on area roads. And, once he retired up until his mid-70s, every year on his birthday, he biked his age in miles and then went to the pool at OCC to swim that number of laps. Bob also took up carving with many of his pieces gracing shelves at home.
But heaven on earth for Bob was his little camp on the Oswegatchie River in Wanakena, NY. There swimming, canoeing and hiking were added to biking and running as well as relaxing on his party boat or just sitting on the dock with a beer in his hand and his dog by his side. Bob loved his dogs and up until the last four years, there was always a much loved, four-legged member of the family.
Bob is pre-deceased by is parents and brother, Jim. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Katie; son, David and daughter-in-law, Margie of San Jose, CA; granddaughter, Jessica of Chicago, IL; and nephew, Bill Hinman of Baldwinsville, NY.
There will be no calling hours. A committal service will be held later in the spring at the convenience of the family. Donations can be made to Helping Hounds Rescue, 7268 Caswell Ave., North Syracuse, NY 13212; or the Elbridge Free Library, 241 East Main St., Elbridge, NY 13060.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Robert L. Hinman, please visit our floral store.