Robert A Bair

Robert Allen Bair was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 11, 1950. Born into a family of Bair’s
that included his parents (Robert and Margaret nee McPeak), three brothers (Doug (Sandy),
John and Tom (Suzie) and one sister (Cathy Moore (Howard), Robert was the second eldest
son and sibling. Bob, or Bob Bair as most lovingly referred to him, surrounded himself at an
early age with lifelong friends and fellow instigators. He attended Brother Rice High School
before enlisting in the Marines (Semper Fi) where he served in Vietnam between 1968 and
1970. Upon return from the Vietnam War in 1970, he met Karen Bair, nee Aikens. They married
and soon expanded the Bair pack to include a daughter, Kelly Bair and a son, Robert (Rob) Bair.

At the same time Bob committed to taking over his father’s second generation building material
company, ALCO, NVC (ALCO-A Local Company, National Varnish Company) after a
devastating fire threatened to shut down its doors. Bob played both the part of savvy
businessman and factory man. He built the company from literal ashes and employed people
from all walks of life, including his brothers and other trusted friends who grew to be like family.
He was a beloved boss and mentor to all who had the good fortune to do business with or for
him.

Later in life his love expanded to the Morse family when he met his longtime partner, Debbie
Morse. Together they enjoyed twenty five years of love and adventures in Michigan and Florida.
Whether boating, traveling, cooking, gardening or painting, Bob Bair found joy in the everyday.
He had a grin that lit up the room and made people around him feel at ease. He never met a
stranger. He was a cherished father in law to Casey Dunn and Shannon Bair and a fatherly
figure to Adam Morse and Ashlee Morse. His role as “Papa” to his grandkids (Owen & Quinn
Dunn, Carter & Brooks Bair, Gavin Morse and Ashlynn Wulf) was his greatest act of love. He
had a unique relationship with each and his best traits are carried on in them.

Bob left this world on February 19, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. The gifts he left include
memorable traditions, countless bad jokes, and a collection of heartfelt sayings, the most
famous of which is: “Guess, what? I love you today” and “ this getting old stuff isn’t for sissies”.
He leaves behind a legion of people to whom he imparted his kindness and generous spirit. We
hope you’ll pay it forward in his honor. Now, if only he had left behind that smoked salmon
recipe.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Detroit Capuchin Soup Kitchen or
Tunnels to Towers Foundation.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert A Bair, please visit our floral store.