Obituary of Alvin Robert “Bob” Kantor
It is with great sadness that we share the passing on January 2, 2020 of Alvin R. (“Bob”) Kantor of Mercer Island, WA formerly of Chicago. Bob was born May 9, 1921 and lived a wonderful and full life. He was a man of integrity, personal strength, optimism, love of his family and his country.
Bob became an Eagle Boy Scout in 1937 and that same year went to the first Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington D.C., camping in the area of what is now the Reagan Airport. He was always curious and was learning new things up until the time of his death. He was an avid lover of classical music and history.
He loved his years at the University of Wisconsin. We recently had the pleasure of seeing some movies taken when he was a student there. Many of them were of social activities and sports at his fraternity, Phi Sigma Delta. He remained lifelong friends with many of the folks he met at the University of Wisconsin. He was thrilled that two of his granddaughters and grandson-in-law followed in his footsteps to become proud Badgers.
He started graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, but was drafted for WWII. He was a proud member of the 345th Bomb Group. He spoke often of his years in the service. Those years were important in fostering qualities in him that helped to make him the fine man that he was.
Bob and his wife, Marjorie, who predeceased him, were collectors of stamps, autographs including presidential autographs, manuscripts and free franks. In 1992 he and Marjorie published the definitive award-winning book on Sanitary Fairs. They were well known and respected in these arenas. Bob was a former president of the Chicago Philatelic Society. He served on the Council of Philatelists of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and was involved in the creation of the National Postal Museum.
His accomplishments and contributions of self are too numerous to mention. The world is a better place because Bob was here. He leaves behind two daughters, seven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
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