Robert G. Mitchard, 75, of Westchester, the former director of public works for the Village of Westchester, died of complications from renal failure and peritonitis Friday, Jan. 26, in LaGrange Memorial Hospital. Mr. Mitchard was the father of novelist Jacquelyn Mitchard, who wrote “The Deep End of the Ocean.” He was the director of public works in Westchester for 21 years and retired in 1997. He continued working there part-time as a plumbing inspector until his death, said his son, Robert Mitchard II. Mr. Mitchard moved to Westchester in 1960 and built a brick two-story building at the corner of Roosevelt Road and Manchester Avenue. On the first floor he housed his business, HMR Plumbing, and his family lived on the second floor. Mr. Mitchard was a past governor of Moose Lodge 777 in Bellwood, his son said. He was a golfer and a regular at the Riverside Golf Club. “He was everybody’s friend,” his son said. “He helped a lot of people.” Mr. Mitchard grew up on Chicago’s Northwest Side. He married his wife, Mary, in 1948. She died in 1975. He had been with a special companion, Barbara Borchardt, for the past eight years. In addition to his son and daughter, Mr. Mitchard is survived by eight grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 Cermak Rd. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Episcopal Church of St. Dunstan of Canterbury, 1401 Newcastle Ave., Westchester.
