Robert “Bob” Ocvirk, 67, passed away Monday, March 12, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. He was raised and lived most of his life in Bowling Green, Ohio. At the young age of four, he contracted polio. His parents, Otto and Betty Ocvirk, encouraged independence through attending public schools. Neighbor and friend Dr. Sam Cooper urged Bob to swim as therapy which contributed to his participation in athletics. In 1965, he became the first Eagle Scout for Boy Scout Troop 422. Robert graduated from Bowling Green Senior High School in 1968. He enrolled at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, a school ahead of its time when it came to accommodating wheelchair students and athletes. Bob was a member of the University of Illiniois Gizz Kids Wheelchair basketball team for four years, earning National Titles twice. He graduated from college in 1973 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and Art Education degree. Bob participated nationally and internationally in wheelchair sports proudly representing the United States in the Paralympics. He achieved gold medals in a number of swimming events including freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke along with wheelchair slalom racing. Robert participated in three Paralympics: 1972 (Heidelberg, Germany), 1976 (Toronto, Canada), 1980 (Arnhem, Netherlands). Bob also attended the International Stoke Mandeville Games in England and the Pan American Games in Kingston, Jamaica. He was inducted into the U.S. Wheelchair Hall of Fame in 1996.  Bob coached the Toledo Silver Streaks wheelchair basketball team along with softball and rugby teams in Colorado and Columbus. During his years in Bowling Green Robert was the night manager for the Bowling Green Ice Arena, where he touched the lives of many figure skaters and hockey players. The Ice Arena provided fond memories for Bob and his family. Subsequently, he was employed by the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for nearly 25 years as a Customer Account Specialist in Key West, FL, and Columbus, OH. In this position he directed parts for the U.S. Navy’s Trident Submarine fleet. Robert continued to live independently, and interacted with family, and longtime friends. He was known for his ambition, his big heart, and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and coworkers. Robert is survived by his brother Tom (Jan) Ocvirk and sister Carol (Neal) Frazier; nephew Jason (Allison) Ocvirk, niece Tiffany (Luke) Chmielewski, step-nephew Peyton Frazier, and step-niece Piper Frazier, and grand-nieces Katelyn and Julianna Ocvirk. Robert will be buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bowling Green, Ohio. The family will welcome friends for a celebration of Robert’s life at the Bowling Green Ice Arena lounge, from 4:00-7:00 pm on Friday, June 22. Tributes can be made to: U.S. Olympic Committee, Attn: Development,1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. Private condolences can be sent through Evans Funeral Home (Columbus, OH).



SERVICES

Celebration of Life

Friday, June 22, 2018

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM



Bowling Green Ice Arena Lounge 

417 N Mercer Road 

Bowling Green, Ohio 43403



http://www.evansfuneralhome.net/obituary/robert-ocvirk