A giant Muskie has fallen--Q has departed for bluer pastures

[Masterofreality]

From Joanne Queenan. Hope to see many there:

" Joanne Queenan wrote:

Funeral arrangements have been made. Dec. 3, Corpus Christi Church
Visitation 9:00 -11:00 am. Mass 11:00 and Gathering in the undercroft following the service. Thank you everyone for your support through this difficult journey.

The address for Corpus Christi Church is:

2014 Springdale Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231
(Northwest side of Cincinnati, south of I275 west of I-75 in the Mt. Healthy Heights area)
(513) 825-0618

Thanks.

[Masterofreality]

From Joanne Queenan. Hope to see many there:

" Joanne Queenan wrote:

Funeral arrangements have been made. Dec. 3, Corpus Christi Church
Visitation 9:00 -11:00 am. Mass 11:00 and Gathering in the undercroft following the service. Thank you everyone for your support through this difficult journey.

The address for Corpus Christi Church is:

2014 Springdale Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231
(Northwest side of Cincinnati, south of I275 west of I-75 in the Mt. Healthy Heights area)
(513) 825-0618

Thanks.

Just bumping this folks. It would be great to have a fine crowd of Musketeers at Q's service.

Bob Queenan was a superb journalist and a wonderful Xavier Musketeer. No one loved Xavier more.

Thank you.

[Masterofreality]

Last Saturday, a goodly crowd of family, friends and admirers gave a wonderful, appropriate and reverent send off to the wonderful Bard of this Board and the self described "ink stained wretch" Robert "Bear" Queenan. It was a wonderful Mass at Corpus Christi Chuch in Mt. Healthy Heights- Bob's home parish. I was honored to be there and pay my respects to Bob's wife of 53 years, his son, his daughter and her family, and his Nephew Muskeagle of this Board. Bob's wife's brother is a Franciscan Priest and he said the Mass. I have to say that when the group of 10 Franciscan Brothers sang the Song to Mary over Bob's Urn, it was extremely moving and melancholy, but in a way uplifting. All in all a wonderful service.

Before I go, though, I must address my recollections of Bob. I first met Bob Queenan in 1971 when he was in his 8th year as a sportswriter with the Cincinnati Post. He was primarily writing college sports at that time, but also some Indy Car and he had just been appointed the Beat Writer for the Cincinnati Swords- the fledgling affiliate in the AHL of the Buffalo Sabres. But college sports and Xavier were still Bob's first loves and as such, Bob would navigate his way over to Xavier to regularly hobnob with his classmate Jack Cherry (Always Learning/WiseXU Owl) Xavier's Sports Information Director and Big Jim McCafferty Xavier's Athletic Director. As Captain of Xavier's Golf team in 1971-1972, I was in the Athletic offices at the Schmidt Fieldhouse all the time. I had met Bob and had been regaled by the stories that were shared by Bob, Jack, Ray Baldwin (Head Trainer and (somewhat) Golf Coach, and Jim. Bob did a small story on the XU golf team and a friendship was cemented. Bob had tremendous advice on how to handle certain situations and I appreciate his advice. However, upon graduation, life took us different places. Thanks to these message boards, however, I noticed a post on one of the old boards from "WKRQ". I immediately sent Bob a private message and, sure enough, it was the Bear himself. He immediately remembered me and the friendship was rekindled. Bob had always been helpful to those less fortunate than himself and to new sportswriters, but the biggest contribution he made was, along with Andy MacWiliams, keeping Xavier in the Cincinnati media when the school's fortunes were not so rich. And then when a comeback was made, they fought against the Black & Red tide to get XU exposure. Bob wrote for the Post for over 30 years before retiring in the mid 1990's. For his fine work we were happy to induct him as an Honorary Brother in the Lew Hirt Society and he was forever grateful to have one more avenue of connection to XU. His lifelong friend Jack Cherry who was then in Texas, sent along a rollicking letter that we read at Bob's induction. It was just like old times. We stayed in close contact over the years and he'd let me in on inside info when he got it- he still had lots of friends in the newspaper business. He was starting to write "that book" that he always promised.

Bob fought and beat Cancer 4 freaking times like the Bear he was. He had called me ecstatic last summer letting me know that his latest scan showed him to be cancer free. Unfortunately an infection that he incurred in the last month was too much to overcome. He'll be up there above us, though, watching and doing whatever he can do to help the Muskies win. As a St. X High School grad, I believe he had something to do with their State Football Championship Friday night.

The last thing I want all to know is that Bob Queenan was a grizzly throwback to the times of old newspaper reporting with all of the rough edges attached. But he was a superb human being, a fantastic Xavier alumnus, a dedicated husband and father and a guy who would do whatever he could to help someone who needed it. I am proud and happy that Bob Queenan was in my life and I'll miss that old gruff-especially sitting with him in Cintas Center. This board will be poorer without his knowledge too. I wish I could repeat his stories.
Thanks for reading my attempt at a eulogy.

[kyzrex]

MOR......thanks for posting.

[Shadow]

Thanks, Mor. That was nice.

[Gorilla '69]

Nice, MOR.
I have heard similar comments about his character and qualities from people who knew him. As I stated earlier, I wish I could have met him and heard some of his stories.