Paying Tribute to Bob Menck

Robert Menck III, Bob to friends and family, died peacefully July 21, 2020, as his partner Lisa held his hand. He was the son of Carol (Meddaugh) Menck and the late Robert Menck Jr. He was born in Smallwood, NY October 12, 1960 and moved with his family to Brattleboro, VT. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, where he participated in the band and played football in 1978. Bob attended the United States Naval Academy 78-79, and moved to Auburn University when his major was no longer available at the Academy. He left Auburn when a hurricane wiped out the facilities for his major. He then moved to the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and graduated in 1982. While at UNH Bob acquired his lifelong interest in birds and met his future wife Carol Hagstrom. 

Bob and Carol married and moved to Claremont, NH, where they began careers in teaching, and began their family. Bob left teaching the following year, when he realized that he made more money driving a truck in the summer than he did for a whole year as a teacher. When the owner of the company realized that Bob had a college degree, he was promoted to various positions in management. He stayed with the DiSilva Companies for 27 years.  Bob and Carol had two children, Sarah (Menck) Gray and Robert Menck IV and moved from Claremont to Keene, NH where they raised their children. Bob and Carol divorced in 2005 but remained good friends.  

Bob became a swim official when his children were young and involved in competitive swimming. His children eventually pursued other interests, but Bob was hooked. He worked his way through the levels to Meet Referee and mentored many others. He became active with USA Swimming LSC: New England Swimming (NES) when he was asked to be on the Officials Committee, then to be the Chair of that committee. It was during this time that he met Lisa, another committee member. They became the best of friends. Bob also was appointed to the NES Board of Directors and served as the Chair of the Technical Committee. Most recently, Bob was the NES Board Vice Chair of Program Operations.

Bob was extremely active on the USA Swimming national level, working national meets all over the country in many different positions. He served as the Eastern Zone Official’s Chair, and had been given the honor to serve at USA Swimming’s Olympic Trials in 2021. This had been a dream of his.

Bob served in many capacities for YMCA Swimming at the national, regional and local levels. He officiated High School swimming across a 4 state area, served as an NCAA official for Men’s and Women’s Division 1 NCAA Championships,  many conference championships and served as Meet Referee for America East and the Ivy League. Bob coached diving at the HS and College levels and was well respected for his skill as a diving judge and for mentoring other officials in the subtleties of judging diving. Bob was well loved at all levels of swim officiating for his knowledge and skill as an official and a mentor, his sense of humor, and his hijinks and pranks. He was affectionately known as “King Bob” after his love of the Minions was discovered. 

Bob also was an extensively active birder and displayed an amazing knowledge, as he was able to identify any bird by sight or song. He participated in E-Bird and achieved the distinction of identifying 100 birds in each of the lower 48 states.

Bob is survived by his mother Carol (Meddaugh) Menck of Brattleboro, VT, and his brother Eric (Rick) Menck, his wife Sheilagh, and their son Hunter, of Anchorage, AK. He was a loving father to Sarah (Menck) Gray and her husband Nathan Gray of Surry, NH and Robert (Bob) Menck IV and his wife Taylor Menck of Concord, NH. He was a loving partner to Lisa Black Sholudko and generous of heart to her sons Andrew, Evan and Austen Sholudko. Bob adored his grandchildren Aleah Wallace Menck, Milo Gray and Asher Gambs-Sholudko. Bob is also survived by his maternal aunts and uncles, and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and a large and extensive network of incredible family and friends all over the country. He will be sorely missed by all.

At this time, there will be a private family Zoom service, with hopes of a formal gathering of remembrance and celebration of his life in the spring.  There will be an online platform for friends and families to upload pictures and videos of their memories of Bob, that information will be published soon.

Donations can be made to New England Swimming towards a scholarship in his name.
New England Swimming, 1241 Highland Ave. Rear, Needham, MA 02492, or pay via  credit card on the www.neswim.com website.