Robert Gordon Schlenzig, died in his Colorado home on Jan. 21. Born on Feb. 17, 1926 to Rudolph and Adell Schlenzig in Milwaukee WI. He fought for the 27th Infantry Division in WWII, where he was awarded the Bronze Battle Star after serving in Okinawa, Japan. He graduated from Marquette University with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He continued his education with postgraduate work at MIT. Bob first worked for AC Spark Plug, supervising Inertial Guidance Systems for many missile and space programs. In 1962, Bob began his 25-year career at Northrop Corp. in Norwood, MA. He managed the development and production of the gyroscope guidance system that was used in the Apollo space program and many of the missile systems used by the military. After a move to Colorado, he rejoined Northrop in Rolling Meadows, IL. As Vice President of Program Management, he oversaw many programs including the countermeasure systems on the F-15 Eagle and B-1 bomber. In 1987, Bob was named the Corporate Vice-President and General Manager of Northrop’s Electronic Systems Division in Hawthorne, CA. Here he managed the complex avionics system used in the B-2 Stealth bomber and the guidance systems for the MX missile. Bob retired in 1990, and spent the last 14 years with Gail at their ranch in Colorado, entertaining their family and many friends and tending to their dogs, horses and cattle. Survived by his wife, Gail; sister, Marilyn; children, Monica (Jack) Richtsmeier, Kathleen, Patricia (Fred) DiMonte, Robert and Elizabeth (Mark) Jones; nine grandchildren; and 20 nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2005 at St. Anne Catholic Church, 120 N. Ela Street, Barrington, IL. The Memorial Mass will follow at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Attention: Dr. Steven Rosen – Director, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
