Bob was a fellow Friday Rider that you all probably remember and were inspired by his awesome power. He raced Cat2 50+ and has some impressive stats online. He won the sprint many times, even after his surgery. Probably the oldest rider to win the sprint multiple times. From his brother Jim, here is some info about Bob’s passing.
Good Friends, Fellow Cyclists, Inspirations,
After a day of of disbelief, a sleepless night, waking at 2:45 am which is when i need to leave to meet Bobbie to ride w him on his commute to work, it hit me again that i had lost my little brother.
He had been training really hard all last year after having a 10cm bypass of his illiac artery, which had been blocked for about 6 months but did not keep him from riding one-legged. After his surgery he kept increasing his training gradually to the point where now he was back training and racing like his old self (3) races in a day. He had trained hard all week and instead of going to tucson w me to race he was really excited to do bike ranch A group on saturday on tandem with his friend Jackie. She has been improving tremendously and he wanted to show her how strong they would be on the tandem. They had a great 3-4 hr ride and had dropped all in the pack but 4 National team guys and they stayed away. He had pushed really hard saturday but wanted to back it up with doing the tandem again on sunday and wanted to do the 74 mile tour de phx course in under 3 hrs. about the same time we did several years ago to win the TDP. Dick Snyder and i met them and pretty much only held their wheel to Ftn Hills where they dropped us climbing to Pallisades. As we got close to the Beeline i did a 42 mph (downhill) sprint to get in front of them for the first time of the day. Climbing towards Saguaro Lake we finally cried uncle and Dick and i said goodbye and turned around. Bobbie had been having chest pains on really cold rides that would make him let go of the bars and clutch his chest. It happened again couple weeks ago at the 12 hrs of Papago race he did with Bob Laroche. He was riding as strong as ever this day and they had made it up Usury Pass and were heading back on McDowell rd when he asked Jackie if she was pushing cause he was really feeling it. Shortly after that he just fell over and died. She has a lot of road rash but is ok. We do not know for sure but he may have been having several heart-attaches but is in such great shape that it only made him hesitate for a few seconds then return to being Bubba Power. This one was a big one though and for the first time in my life my brother did not get up from it. I’ve seen him crash as a kid pick up his teeth and bike and walk home, or jog 10-15 miles home after being left at the salt river. Bobbie was the toughest person i know and i cannot believe anything could stop him.
You are receiving this email from me and i must say this is only the people i had addresses for as their are so many more of you out there that i know my little brother had loved, respected, been inspired by, been encouraged and enriched for knowing you and to have so many wonderful memories on the bike. So many of you have helped and supported my brother over the years to stay on the bike, race, be the best he could be no matter what life threw his way. I wanted to personally thank you and remind you of how much he appreciated all of you, your kind words, your competitive spirits, good sportsmanship, your generosity etc.
Often on long rides especially when on the tandem where i was stoker and thus could keep up with him we would talk and your names would come up as he would fondly remember and share so many thoughts and stories of rides with you. Cycling was his life and you were a big part of that.
I encourage you to remember him not in sadness but with a big smile like he always had especially when he was going all out!
Jim
I truly didn’t know what to say when I first found out this news. I worked with Bob “Puppy” for 20 years at Honeywell and we developed and friendship then. Later on we started riding mountain bikes and the first time he showed up to a race he was riding a Diamondback Apex and he was wearing basketbal shorts and tennis shoes. We all had the gear and he beat everyone of us! We shared campsites together at races and he respected my family and my kids loved him and ask about him often. Bob faced everything as we say in the dirt bike community “WFO”! He faced his opponents in life and on the bike head on and beat everyone of them. Since moving to California we haven’t been in touch as much as when we worked together but I truly feel I have lost a important part of me today. Tonight when I’m out climbing up a fireroad on my mountain bike I will be thinking of him and dedicating the adventure to his memory and I will be praying for his family during this time of loss. Vince Vinay
Bob was a good guy and always treated me good in the lab, during my time at Allied/honeywell. My fondest memory of Bob was this motorcycle jump picture he had on his tool box. He was doing a jump at a sand dune and from the angle of the picture it looked like he was 30 feet in the air. I use to tease him that I taught Roger De Coster how to ride. Sure I busted his chops here and there-all in good fun of course. Well my friend, until we meet in the stars thank you for being you!
I’m greatly saddened to hear about Bob’s passing and offer condolences to all of his famiy and close friends. Bob was a fantastic competitor and great guy who gave his all for everyone. A friend and I raced against Bob and Steve on tandem, once just beating them by half a bike length in Prescott, once winning by one second on the state time trial (Steve, not sure if you were stoker in that race), and once just by a second or two in El Tour. After that I quit racing against Bob because I knew he was going to come back with a vengeance and leave us far in the dust! Bob was a true champ and a legend and everyone will sure miss him.
I am totally lost for words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To the Pongratz Family,
So devastated by this news and so sorry for your loss. I have known Bob since coming to Tempe Honeywell a long time ago. I was quite familiar with his zest and enthusiasm for cycling. I worked closely with Bob as the Fire Department and the Medical Center worked closely together. I will miss his energy. I will miss his “crusty” ( and I smile remembering) voice always telling me ” you just gotta get up and do whatever makes you happy and move! Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise!” He was always telling me the benefits of cycling. Bob spoke very highly of his wife and I finally got to meet Jeannine recently. We both lamented how stubborn Bob could be. I cannot believe that he won’t be around on 2222 calls! I will tuely miss you Bob, but I know you were following your hearts desire. God bless! Kathy
So sad to hear. I met Bob shortly after staring to work at Allied Signal in the 80’s and rode with a few times, at those times he would let you keep up. I last saw prior to my retirement and we talked about the issues with his leg. In all of those years I knew him, through ups and downs and no matter the situation he always had a smile and a positive attitude. He surely will be missed.
They say birds of a feather flock together, Bob was one of the most colorful of them I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His spark was obvious and loud, his love, dedication and determination where on display for all of us to see and feel. And that should be the reminder to us all, love what we do, love those around us and live in the moment because we don’t know when our last will be. I wish I had known him longer but the mark he left was deep and always encouraging.
It is hard to for me to grasp that the twenty years that I’ve had the privilege of riding and racing with Bob have come to an end. The tens of thousands of miles we spent on the tandem have given me a thousand memories that that I will always treasure. Images keep flashing through my mind – Bob helping the stoker of another tandem take off his jacket while racing at 30+ mph in the middle of the Nationals Road Race. Climbing the Alp d’Heuz in pouring rain, lightning flashing below us, and Bob laughing away, enjoying every minute of. So many others…
But at the heart of everything that made Bob such a pleasure to be around was the strength of his character. Bob was as honest, caring, and trustworthy a man as I have ever known. There are a lot of good people in this world who you can trust and rely on, but Bob was on a higher plane. Trusting him was like trusting the sun to rise in the east tomorrow, or relying on gravity to keep working – Bob was simply incapable of not honoring the trust you had in him. Having people like Bob to count among your friends is rare gift, vastly underappreciated until it’s gone.
All of us were lucky to have him as part of our lives for the brief time we had. I will miss him more than I can say, and my heart goes out to his family…
I only knew Bob in passing and in legend. I recall as a newer cyclist on a group ride out on Rio Verde… A group rolled up to us, everyone riding pretty hard. I look over and a guy on a fixed gear with the largest chain ring I had ever seen, just tooling along with the group. Then the rollers and he’s gone off the front. Everyone says, did you see that guy… 6+ years ago and we’re still telling that story on our club rides. Thank you Bob for your contributions to the cycling community and the community of Phoenix. God Bless you and your family, and may peace and comfort come to them.
I knew Bob at honeywell and played ping-pong with him allmost every day he was the most compeditve person I ever knew and it didnt matter if it was bikes,ping pong,or marbles,he didnt like to lose,we had many enjoyable times he was a good friend and will be missed.
Bill Keagle
I did not ride with Bob but I new him as a great friend, I meet Bob when I first came hear to honeywell in 1988 he was a great guy and he will be missed bye alot of people hear at honeywell, To his family I am soory for your loss.
As a beginner to the sport I look up to the local mtb endurance titans. Jon and I shared a camp w one of these titans, Papa Roche, and his buddy Bob at D2D. …and between my laps I’d see my unshakable friend P Roche come in HURTING from the pace Bob was keeping them at. -Watching one super beast on the bike push the other, it was a sight. RIP Bob. From your old fans, to one of your newest – you will be missed, and remain a reason to turn em over when we think we’ve got nothing left.
I didn’t know Bob long but the time I did I enjoyed talking to him everyday at Honeywell. You will be missed!
Jim,
my heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I raced alongside Bob just a few weeks ago as we helped each other along the canal at Papago; and I was impressed how strong he was; and he kept on going all day. I have plenty of other memories too; he and you both have given a lot to the AZ cycling community and I know I will always remember him. Strength to you and your families.
Bob was one of those people you never forget. He was easygoing for the most part ~ until there was a challenge ~ which he would meet with an intensity and a focus that was unmatched. Thanks for showing us common people what the heart of a champion looks like Bob. I’m going to miss you.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Bob was such a tough guy and alway looked great, fun to talk to he was always upbeat about life. I had many talks with Bob over the years and I know he loved his family and was very proud of his two children and would tell me how much he loved them and how they were doing. He will be missed around here! Our prayers are with your Family and may God Bless You!
Unbelievable knowing what an iron man Bob was to hear of his passing. I worked with him about 17 yrs and it was always more fun and interesting because of him. My deepest condolences go out to his family for losing him way to soon.
Bobby was an inspiration to me personally simply because of his extraordinary determination, grit and huge smile! No matter how badly he was suffering he never really complained and found a way to press on. I am honored to have been Bob’s friend and will miss him dearly.
Woody
Puppy, Bobby,,bobnoxiuos, my bud!
I well miss you more than words can say.
To your family , my friend , go my deepest condolences.
You are an animal and an inspiration.
Giving 150% in everything you do.
I will never forget you. This bud’s for you………PUP!
I was deeply sadden to hear of the loss of our dear friend Bob Pongratz! I have not known Bob as long as most of you but he always had a smile on his face, made me laugh and was the most dedicated bike racer out there! I will always remember him as a positive, funny, and competitive person! Miss you Bob!