Meritorious Official Siar Passes Away
Robert T. (Bob) Siar, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Meritorious Official in 2000, passed away on Friday, at the age of 85.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sue, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Meritorious Official in 1998; his children, Robert M. (Cheryl), Tom Siar and Kim Johnson; and his grandchildren, Chelsea and Andrew Siar and Samantha and Justin Johnson.
Friends will be received from 2-8 p.m. on Sunday, March 4, at the Neely Funeral Home at 2208 Mount Royal Blvd. in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. Funeral services will be Monday, March 5, at 11 a.m. at the Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, 3200 Mount Royal Blvd. in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. Lunch will be served following the service. Internment private.
“Bob Siar was one of those individuals who was involved in our sport at all levels, and he will truly be missed,” said Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “He had a tremendous impact on wrestling as a coach and as an official, both on the mat and instructing others. Our thoughts and prayers are with wife, Sue, who is also a Hall of Fame inductee, his family, friends, former wrestlers and students.”
Siar was a graduate of Slippery Rock University where he lettered in football and swimming. He taught and coached 42 years in Pennsylvania Public Schools, beginning as an assistant coach for football, basketball and track at Kane High School from 1955-1957 and at Johnsonburg High School from 1957-1960.
He became head football and track coach at Brookville High School in 1960, and he started the wrestling program in 1961. Siar became head wrestling coach at Shaler High School in 1965 while also serving as an assistant coach for football and track.
He had a 315-108-7 record in 29 seasons and was named WPIAL Coach of the Year in 1974 after leading Shaler to its first WPIAL title. He also guided Shaler and Hampton Area High School to PIAA runner-up finishes in 1979 and 1993, respectively. Siar was president of the WPIAL Coaches Association from 1968-75 and was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993.
Siar, who retired from teaching and coaching in 1997, joined the USA Wrestling Officials Organization in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling in 1979. He was selected as the Pennsylvania Wrestling Official of the Year in 1984 and as the Pennsylvania Wrestling Man of the Year in 1985. He was named USWOA Official of the Year in 1995.
He was a USWOA Category I and FILA International Wrestling Official, who officiated every Northeast Junior Championship from 1977-2007. He chaired many USWOA committees and served as FILA secretary to the 1996 Olympic Games, the 1998 Junior World Championships, and the 2000 Olympic Games.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sue, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Meritorious Official in 1998; his children, Robert M. (Cheryl), Tom Siar and Kim Johnson; and his grandchildren, Chelsea and Andrew Siar and Samantha and Justin Johnson.
Friends will be received from 2-8 p.m. on Sunday, March 4, at the Neely Funeral Home at 2208 Mount Royal Blvd. in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. Funeral services will be Monday, March 5, at 11 a.m. at the Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, 3200 Mount Royal Blvd. in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. Lunch will be served following the service. Internment private.“Bob Siar was one of those individuals who was involved in our sport at all levels, and he will truly be missed,” said Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “He had a tremendous impact on wrestling as a coach and as an official, both on the mat and instructing others. Our thoughts and prayers are with wife, Sue, who is also a Hall of Fame inductee, his family, friends, former wrestlers and students.”
Siar was a graduate of Slippery Rock University where he lettered in football and swimming. He taught and coached 42 years in Pennsylvania Public Schools, beginning as an assistant coach for football, basketball and track at Kane High School from 1955-1957 and at Johnsonburg High School from 1957-1960.
He became head football and track coach at Brookville High School in 1960, and he started the wrestling program in 1961. Siar became head wrestling coach at Shaler High School in 1965 while also serving as an assistant coach for football and track.
He had a 315-108-7 record in 29 seasons and was named WPIAL Coach of the Year in 1974 after leading Shaler to its first WPIAL title. He also guided Shaler and Hampton Area High School to PIAA runner-up finishes in 1979 and 1993, respectively. Siar was president of the WPIAL Coaches Association from 1968-75 and was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993.Siar, who retired from teaching and coaching in 1997, joined the USA Wrestling Officials Organization in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling in 1979. He was selected as the Pennsylvania Wrestling Official of the Year in 1984 and as the Pennsylvania Wrestling Man of the Year in 1985. He was named USWOA Official of the Year in 1995.
He was a USWOA Category I and FILA International Wrestling Official, who officiated every Northeast Junior Championship from 1977-2007. He chaired many USWOA committees and served as FILA secretary to the 1996 Olympic Games, the 1998 Junior World Championships, and the 2000 Olympic Games.
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