Robert Steele McCormack, “Bob”, 84, of Shiloh, Illinois, died peacefully on Thursday,
April 30, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Bob was born on August 13, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, to Charles and Dallas
McCormack. He grew up in Imperial Beach, California, with his brother Mike and made
lifelong memories and friends there. He graduated from Mar Vista High School in 1959
and attended San Diego State College, where he excelled in sports.

With the Vietnam War on the horizon in 1963, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy,
later attending OCS. He specialized in military logistics and supply operations afloat.
He served with distinction for more than twenty years and retired in December 1984 at
United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) in Tampa, Florida, with the rank of
Commander, USN. His military career earned him numerous awards and
commendations for leadership and operational excellence including the National
Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Gold Stars, Navy Unit
Commendation Ribbons, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, Vietnam Service
Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

After his Navy career, Bob entered the aerospace defense industry. He applied his
expertise in logistics engineering, finance, and leadership at SRA in Tampa. In 1988,
SRA asked Bob and his wife Susan to relocate to southern Illinois to open an office that
supported Air Force commands and the new United States Transportation Command
(USTC) at Scott Air Force Base. Bob built strong teams of government and industry
professionals who played key roles in the establishment of USTC.

In 1991, Bob joined The MITRE Corporation at Scott Air Force Base as a Systems
Engineer. Over the next sixteen years he rose to Senior Principal Logistics Engineer,
Department Manager, and St. Louis Site Leader. He worked closely with government
counterparts to modernize complex transportation information systems and business
processes. Bob led teams with humor, care, and compassion, and created deep, lasting
bonds that felt like family. Many of his team members later became senior leaders in
government, the military, and industry, while maintaining close personal ties with Bob
and Susan long after his retirement in 2007.

Bob met his wife Susan on a blind tennis date and Susan’s undeniable faith in Christ
was instrumental in Bob’s conversion to Catholicism.  He and Susan enjoyed sharing
their faith and were active at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville for over 30 years
where Bob served as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Lay Director of the Belleville Cursillo
from 2017 to 2020 and, together with Susan, participated in the Ministry to the Sick and
Homebound. Through Cursillo and his quiet acts of service, Bob touched many lives with faith, encouragement, and friendship and he thoroughly enjoyed theological
discussions with both of his grandsons, Christopher and Parker at the dining room table.

Bob and Susan had a shared love of travel whether on the hunt for the best local
margarita or their latest international trip to Australia and New Zealand.  As a team, they
created a vibrant chosen family wherever they lived. Their home welcomed friends with
laughter, faith and steady support through life’s joys and sorrows. Bob’s warmth, quick
wit, and genuine care for others touched countless lives. In continuation of his life of
service, Bob chose to donate his body to medical science.

His beloved wife Susan, children Kellee Balle, Chandra Rutherford, Doug Ryer, Renee
McCormack and their families take comfort knowing Bob’s spirit will continue to watch
over and guide them as he did throughout his life.

A Memorial Mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, Illinois, on
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the
Cathedral.  Friends are encouraged to join the McCormack family at a luncheon
honoring Bob following mass in the church undercroft where stories and anecdotes
celebrating Bob’s life would be welcomed and encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Washington
University School of Medicine Body Donor Program, specifically the Tyson Memorial
Gardens (bodydonorprogram.wustl.edu/giving) with the note “For the Body Donor
Program Memorial in memory of Robert McCormack,” or to a Catholic charity of your
choice.