Robert Flora
Former U-M Athletic Facilities Director Robert Flora died Dec. 4 in a car accident near St. Ignace, Mich., family members say.
Flora, 92, was a resident of Wildwood Shores, near Brevort, Mich.
Flora was born Nov. 23, 1915, in Muskegon, Mich. He was a World War II veteran, serving from 1942-45. He graduated from U-M and played football with Tom Harmon and Forrest Evashevski. He then earned a master’s degree in education from Michigan State University.
He coached football at Washington State with Evashevski, and also at the University of Iowa. He then worked as assistant athletic director at Iowa with Forrest. Flora returned to Michigan State as an assistant to Clarence Lester “Biggie” Munn, then worked as athletic facilities director at U-M in charge of all buildings including the football field, ice arena and Crisler Arena.
He retired in 1987 and moved to the Upper Peninsula, where he had built a home in 1971. He was a member of the American Legion and known as the “Recycler” for recovering hockey boards from Yost Ice Arena for re-use at St. Ignace Ice Arena.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret.
Flora is survived by five daughters, a son, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Flora requested cremation.
A memorial service is planned for August 2008 in St. Ignace, Mich.
Margaret Pennington
Margaret A. “Peg” Pennington died Nov. 3 at her Chelsea, Mich., home. She was 72.
Pennington worked many years at the Chelsea Family Practice before retiring as a clinical supervisor from the U-M Kellogg Eye Center. She was named co-employee of the year in 1995-96.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chelsea. Her favorite pastimes were playing golf, watching college basketball and football, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Pennington was born Sept. 16, 1935 in Jackson, Mich., the daughter of Earl and Bessie (Gavette) Ryan. She married Harold L. “Hal” Pennington June 25, 1955. He preceded her in death on April 19 of this year. She is survived by her children Mark, Julia, Steven, Meg, Timothy and Daniel (Carolin) Pennington; 10 grandchildren, Gino, Robert, Laura, Ryan, Jacob, Eleanor, MaryRyan, Nicolas, Henry and James; sister Mary (Jon Gallant Sr.) of Jackson; and sister-in-law Barbara Walker of Jackson. She also was preceded in death by her brother James Ryan and sister Barbara Weir.
A funeral mass took place Nov. 7 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Chelsea, with the Rev. William Joseph Turner presiding. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery in Chelsea.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
—Submitted by Juli Pennington, Department of Radiology
