Dr. Robert Peter Yori

He died. No one was more surprised on Saturday than Bob when his heart stopped. He always planned on living another ten years, even though he was overweight, out of shape (he said round is a shape), and he drank too much.

He was born in Freeland, PA on September 26, 1935, the second son and third child of Peter Joseph and Genevieve Inez (Melan) Yori. This half-Austrian half-Irish background provided him with a wicked sense of humor and a huge stubborn streak. He said the only problem with being half-Austrian half-Irish was that at family gatherings, you could never find a designated driver. He graduated from St. Ann's High School in Freeland in 1953 where he lettered in basketball and baseball. He wasn't very good at either one, but there were only eleven boys in the class so there wasn't much competition.

He earned an Associate Degree in 1955 at the Hazleton campus of Penn State before transferring to Bloomsburg State Teachers College where he completed a B.S. in Business Education in May 1957. Bob began his teaching career at Lehighton Area H.5. in September 1957 for the grand salary of $3,200. Teachers worked for nine months and got paid for only nine months, so he learned quickly to budget his money. He always maintained that the biggest mistake that teachers ever made was allowing school boards to spread their nine month salary over twelve months, thus giving the public the impression that teachers get paid in the summer for not working. In addition, it gives the school board an interest free loan for 12 months.

While working at Lehighton, Bob attended graduate school during nights and summers at Lehigh University, and earned a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1968. He moved to Bloomsburg in 1969 and began teaching in the Accounting Department of the College of Business, where he was employed until December 1991. In 1974, Bob successfully completed the requirements to attain his CPA license, and he operated his own small practice until his retirement. A sabbatical leave in 1978-79 allowed him to enter a doctoral program at the PA State University, and he returned to Bloomsburg University in September of 1979 with all the coursework completed. He completed his dissertation and received his Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Accounting in 1984. His wife always maintained that he was the only one who ever entered a doctoral program and came back fat and happy.

He left Bloomsburg University in 1991 and was employed in the Accounting Department of the College of Business at The University of Scranton until June of 1997 when he retired. In retirement, he adjusted to his new calendar of Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Sunday, and he never worked on weekends.

Bob is survived by his daughter Rayne Yori of Bear, DE, and her puppy Benson, and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Peg (Gimmer) Yori in 2009, by his older brother Paul J. Yori in 1994, and by his sister RoseMarie Yori Welsko in 2015.

He once gave Peg a wall plaque that read "We've been through a lot together and most of it was your fault." She promptly nailed it to the wall in his bathroom, and he laughed every morning when he read it. Another of his cherished possessions was a coffee cup given to him by Rayne on his graduation from Penn State with his doctorate. It reads "A turkey with a Ph.D. is still a turkey." If he could do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing. "It's not the destination. It's the journey.”

Services will be at the convenience of the family. Instead of flowers or a memorial donation, spend the money and buy a loved one something nice. Bob would love to know that someone benefitted from his death. (This Eulogy/Obituary was written by Dr. Yori in February of 2018), he also wrote a short note accompanying the script-"If The Newspaper Won't print It Word For Word, Unedited, They Can't Print Any Of It".   God Love Him!!!!

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