Joseph Robert "Bob" Seaman

Joseph Robert “Bob” Seaman, age 86 of Eaton, Ohio, died on Monday, August 13, 2018 at the Greenbriar Nursing Center in Eaton. Bob was born in Sandusky, Ohio on March 28, 1932, the son of Joseph Theodore and Emma Jane Lohr Seaman. He was raised in Sandusky and was a 1949 graduate of Sandusky High School where he was a letterman in football, basketball and track. He continued his education at the General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan for a year and then enrolled at Kent State University on a basketball scholarship and after an injury, a football scholarship where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Math Education and Industrial Education in 1954. At Kent State, he was a letterman in football and track and he won the MAC title in the high jump with a jump that qualified him for the Olympics. He later received his Master's Degree in Education from Bowling Green State University. He continued to take classes at Oberlin College and The Ohio State University as he earned his principal certification in Ohio. Growing up on Lake Erie, Bob spent his summers sailing and his winters ice boating. He learned to sail at an early age and owned his first boat in his early teens. He taught sailing lessons and sailed in races on all of the Great Lakes. He married Marion Jean Wetzel on May 9, 1953. Both college students, they eloped to Angola, Indiana and then returned to Kent State University to finish their education. Over their 65 years of marriage, they raised four children and moved 17 times. Bob, along with his family, had quite a journey though life. His first teaching job was at Parma High School as a Math Teacher from September of 1954 until March of 1955 when he was called to active duty for the U.S. Army. He reported to Baltimore, MD for additional training until August of 1955 when he was stationed in Tulsa, OK in counter intelligence for two years. He then continued on inactive duty for four years to complete his ROTC requirement. In 1957 he returned to Sandusky where he was a math teacher at Sandusky High School and coached football, basketball and track. In 1964, he became the Head Football Coach and in his two years in that position the team had a 19-1 record and was named the 1965 State Champions. In 1966, he was named the Head Football Coach at Massillon Washington High School where he had a record of 20-9-3 over three seasons. From there, in 1969 he went with his friend, Head Coach Ben Wilson, to Wichita State University to be the offensive coordinator. After the tragic plane crash on October 2, 1970 he took over as head coach where he led the team to a winning season in 1973 which was his last season there. It was an amazing group of young men that pulled together as a family after the devastating experience they all went through. Bob remained close with them over the years. In 1974, Bob coached under Earle Bruce at Iowa State University as the offensive coordinator. In 1975 he returned to Wichita to work in private business until 1979 when he became the Head Football Coach at Emporia State University in Emporia, KS for four seasons before returning to Ohio as a math teacher, summer school principal and Head Football Coach at Worthington High School. While there he reached his 100th high school football win in 1983. After 9 seasons at Worthington, he retired from coaching football and in 1992 moved to Cherokee Village, Arkansas. Coaching was clearly a central focus of his life. It was the special relationships that he made with students, players, coaches, their families, and people in the community that made coaching more than a career. It was a life passion for him that had many rewards. While in college, he was a member of Phi Gamma Theta Fraternity at Kent State University, where he was President his senior year. He was also a member of ROTC all four years and graduated with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was a member of the American Legion Post and volunteered his time making pizzas to help with fundraising. He was also a member and an officer of the Elks club in Cherokee Village, AR. He received several awards associated with his involvement with sports. He was inducted in to the Sandusky High School Hall of Fame for coaching, and inducted in to the Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. He was also the only coach to be the head coach of both the north (1966) and south team (1986) in the Ohio North-South Classic All-Star football game. And he was recognized for his contributions to the Worthington High School football program in 2011. Bob leaves his wife, Jean; three daughters, Jo Ann Trede (Steve) of Richmond, IN, Paty Asher of Poland, OH, and Kay Sisko (Edward) of Pottstown, PA; seven grandchildren, Megan Wilmot (Chris), Bradley Trede, both of Richmond, IN, Courtney Asher (Brandon Wrobel) of Pittsburgh, PA, Andrew Asher and Devon Asher of Poland, OH, Jay Sisko and Ryan Sisko of Pottstown, PA; four great-grandchildren, Ashley Trede of Columbus, OH, Jakob Trede, Connor Trede and Abigail Trede of Kettering, OH; one brother, Ted Seaman (Sarah) of Williamsburg, VA and one sister; Ellen Wadge of Elyria, OH. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; and one son, Robert E. Seaman. Per his wishes, there will be no calling hours. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH 45420.