Robert Louis Mirto

Robert Louis Mirto was born in 1938 to Ann and Samuel Mirto in Alliance, Ohio. Bob, as he was
known to family and friends, was the eldest of seven children. He started working at age 13
after his father died and entered the Air Force at age 17 after graduating High School. While
stationed in Japan on active duty, he met and married his wife of over 50 years, Victoria. After
working on jet engines and then in missile silos, he left the Air Force and moved his family to
Dallas and then San Francisco. He and Victoria enjoyed their years in California raising three
young girls and traveling on the West coast. It was also here that he learned to play guitar and
began his life long love of playing music. He had several different jobs before he found
employment with Recognition Equipment, a new computer company, as a Field Engineer. The
family moved to New York and later Dallas, where their last child, a son, was born. His hobbies
during these years included cooking, organic gardening, learning to build furniture and a small
sailboat, and continuing to play music and travel with his family, After several more years in New
York, they were relocated to Dallas and spent a year in Chicago, before he finished his career
with Recognition in Dallas. He held several positions and became a Vice President during his
time with Recognition. During these years, they finished raising their children and an adopted
niece and became grandparents. He and Victoria also enjoyed traveling throughout Texas and
the Southwest. He continued playing guitar and learned to play harmonicas. After retirement,
he work as a consultant, but eventually retired fully to care for his wife as she fought cancer for
over 13 years. They always enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren and
became great grandparents. They loved to host large holiday gatherings for family and friends.
They continued to travel, enjoying a family trip to Italy and two trips to Burning Man in the
Nevada desert. Bob and Victoria moved one last time, to Austin, to be near their youngest
grandchildren. After Victoria died in 2012, Bob continued to play and enjoy music. And, while
he had painted oil paintings in the past, he began a new style, abstract, exploring in both oil and
acrylic. He also spent time participating in a program called Power for Parkinson's, involving
exercise and dance classes and weekly lunches with friends. After a difficult year with illness
and progressing Parkinson's symptoms, he passed away on October 17, 2016 at the age of 78.
He is survived by his children, Dr. Mary Mirto and Valerie Mirto Thomson of Austin, Texas, Lori
Pierce of Dallas, Texas, Logan Mirto of San Francisco, California, 8 grandchildren, 3 greatgrandchildren,
2 sisters, a brother and many other friends and family members who will miss his
strength, optimistic spirit and loving counsel.