Fenchel, Robert

1951 - 2012  (61 years)

• Name	Fenchel, Robert  [1, 2]
  Born	20 Jul 1951	Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA   [2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Group	Bloodline
  Died	25 Dec 2012	Steamboat Springs, Routt, Colorado, USA   [3]
  Person ID	I35686	Our Family
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2026

  
  

  Father	Fenchel, Marvin Stanley,   b. 20 Sep 1917, Chicago, Illinois ,   d. 30 Jun 2003  (Age 85 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Frankel, Joyce LaVerne,   b. 6 Jun 1923, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F23047	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Vernon, Mary
  Children	1. Fenchel, Michael Vernon   2. Fenchel, Jeffrey Vernon
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2026
  Family ID	F23055	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 20 Jul 1951 - Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Bob Fenchel passed away unexpectedly in Steamboat Springs, Colo., on Dec. 25, 2012. He will be deeply missed by his loving family: his wife, Mary; his sons, Michael and Jeff; his mother, Joyce; his siblings, Tom (Cathy), Wendy (Ed) Brudnicki and Kathy Share; his uncle, Kenny and aunt, Millie; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved father, Marvin; and his dear aunt and uncle, Jeanette and Jacob Lippert. Bob was born on July 20, 1951, in Chicago. His favorite memories of growing up in Highland Park, Ill., included playing hockey with his childhood and high school friends, restoring a 1930 Model A car with his father, and spending happy times in his neighborhood on Lincoln Avenue. Bob attended the University of Rochester where he graduated with a degree in computer science in 1973. He also found time to organize sports teams that he played on with dozens of friends, and again at UCLA as a graduate student. Bob and Mary met in grad school in 1976, when they were both teaching assistants for the same computer science course. Their favorite recreation was a weekly morning of volleyball on the beach - a tradition carried on today by their friends who are still in California. In 1980 Bob received his Ph.D., and he and Mary were married. Over the next couple of years Bob worked with his business partner, Bill Overman to develop the software Fancy Font, a revolutionary application that allowed then-prevalent dot-matrix printers to produce high-quality output. Bob and Bill's company, SoftCraft, marketed Fancy Font and developed new applications, growing the company to more than 30 full-time employees. SoftCraft software still lives on and serves thousands of financial advisers and millions of their clients. Bob and Mary moved to Madison in 1983, after Mary received her Ph.D. Bob had an Adjunct Professor appointment in the UW-Madison Computer Sciences Department and greatly enjoyed teaching courses while also working more than full-time as President of SoftCraft. The delights of Mary and Bob's life - Michael and Jeff - were born in 1987 and 1989. Bob was an exceptionally devoted father; he loved his sons more than words can describe. Bob loved being at home with the boys during a sabbatical year in Seattle and ensuing years in Madison: getting them to school and welcoming them home at the end of the day, coaching their soccer and basketball teams, and teaching them everything from how a computer works to how to make pancakes to how to live your life with a generous spirit and a great sense of humor. Bob provided a warm, fun, and comfortable space to dozens of Michael and Jeff's friends, who remember Bob with enormous gratitude and love for everything he did and everything he was. Being a mentor, friend and role model to Ray Hibbler for 20 years, and to Tyrone Isaac for 10 years were also highlights among Bob's many joys and achievements. His mentoring gifts extended beyond family and friends into the community. Bob volunteered in numerous classrooms at Franklin, Randall, and Hamilton schools. His commitment to providing encouraging educational experiences to children throughout Madison was also evident in his work as a substitute teacher. He supported teachers and took the "rough edges" out of whatever difficulties any student was having. Whenever a friend or neighbor needed a favor, advice, or the loan of a tool, Bob was there with a helping hand. An enthusiastic sports fan and player, Bob was a longtime member and organizer of several local teams: hockey, soccer, and softball - the latter of which became a father-son team during the past few years, much to his delight. As a spectator and fan, Bob cheered on the Badgers at countless athletic events at Camp Randall and the Kohl Center. Bob and Mary and the boys enjoyed annual ski trips to Steamboat, which often included other families. These trips were a special way to share time as a family and with close friends, in a setting that he loved. Bob joined Epic in 2011 as a software developer, where he played a key role in developing mobile applications with speech input that help physicians provide better care for their patients. Bob also had a special impact on his co-workers - his sense of humor and love for life again a constant bright spot for all. Prior to Epic, Bob created VF Software with Michael and Jeff, where they enjoyed co-developing mobile iPhone applications for the App Store. Bob will be missed deeply and forever by his family, friends, and countless members of the community. He was the embodiment of compassion, patience, generosity, tenderness and cheerfulness. We remember with love his kind smile and warm heart, which will never be far from us.

  
  

• Sources

  [S3651] Obituary, Jeanette (Frankel) Lippert - Obituary (Reliability: 3). [S4922] California, U.S., Marriage Index, 1960-1985, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2007;). California, U.S., Marriage Index, 1960-1985 [S6748] Obituary, Robert Fenchel - Obituary (Reliability: 3).