Robert James Gareis died suddenly on Monday, November 12, 2018, just 9 months after the loss of his adored wife, the late Evelyn Kay Gareis, whom he had nursed through ALS. Just days before his death, he shared with family the following passage from the Book of Wisdom: " The Souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the eyes of the foolish, to be dead and there going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace and they shall be greatly blessed. Because God tried them and found them worthy of himself ." It was the last line he liked particularly. He was referring to Kay, but it was equally applicable to himself.

Robert Gareis was the beloved father of Karen Gareis (James Gortowski), Robin (Claude) Shapiro, and Patrick (Leslie) Gareis; cherished grandfather of Nicolas (Sydney) Mazur, Dean (Kim) Mazur, Samantha Shapiro, and Ryan and Joey Gareis; and the soon-to-be great-grandfather of Addison Kay Mazur, due later this month. He was also the devoted son of the late Raymond and Ann (McNamara) Gareis; loving brother of Paul (Hazel) Gareis; and fond uncle of Anne Gareis, Paul Gareis, Jr., and James Gareis.

Bob grew up in Buffalo, where he attended St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and Canisius College. He was an excellent student, but liked to joke about "my nemesis, Bobby Klocke," with whom he competed for top grades. He was also a multi-sport athlete and involved in an inordinate number of extracurriculars; it seemed he appeared on almost every page of the St. Joe's yearbook. His most memorable summer job was in a city office, answering a telephone whose number was unlisted; coincidentally, he read "War and Peace" that summer. He attended Georgetown Law School, and after a stint at the Securities & Exchange Commission, he was recruited by Baker & McKenzie and moved his family to Chicago in 1965. He took great joy and pride in his work and in mentoring associates. He was a partner for over five decades; he represented many Fortune 500 companies and was a trailblazer in international corporate compliance issues and anti-corruption regulations.

Bob was a longtime parishioner of Holy Name Cathedral and a loyal friend of the Church and of the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. An inveterate world traveler whose favorite city was Paris, he loved good food and a glass of crisp Sancerre (or, failing that, Grey Goose). He will be greatly missed by the staffs of Gibson's, Booth One, and Smith & Wollensky. In September, he enjoyed an extended family trip to Spain and was eagerly looking forward to the next one. He was a big reader and an American history buff who frequently received multiple copies of the latest presidential biography for Christmas. Incongruously, one of his favorite movies was "Blazing Saddles," though he also loved "The Magnificent Seven" (introducing Horst Buchholz). He had an appreciation for the absurd. He was an avid sports fan, and a long-time (and no-longer-suffering) Cubs fan. He was a man of integrity, a gentleman and a scholar, and a doting grandfather. He thought he was wrong once in 1967, but he was mistaken. He will be much missed by his many friends and his loving family.

Visitation Saturday, November 17, 2018 from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 2:30 p.m. at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610. Interment St. Boniface Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, www.mercyhome.org .

For further information please call 312-421-0936.