Obituary of Robert D Kerscher

After a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer, Bob Kerscher went home to be with his Lord on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2017. Born Robert Donald Kerscher in Akron, Ohio on March 8, 1948, Bob grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, graduating from Falls High School in 1966. Bob held many prestigious titles over the years, but the one title he was most proud of was “Papa.” He was the epitome of the family man - committed to leading his family and leaving a lasting legacy to all who had the privilege of knowing him.  His relationships endured multiple decades as a trusted and loyal friend.

He attended Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, studying business and graduating with a Baccalaureate degree in 1970. While attending ONU, Bob established lifelong relationships through his association with Sigma Phi Epsilon. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara, on June 27, 1970.

Bob earned an Executive M.B.A. from Baldwin-Wallace College while working at Chi Corp, a computer services company owned by Case Western Reserve University.  A visionary and serial entrepreneur, Bob founded Lexi-Comp, Inc. in November 1978, growing a small business into an internationally recognized leader in point-of-care, drug reference content for healthcare practitioners.  The company grew rapidly due to Bob’s family-first management style receiving multiple NorthCoast 99 and Plain Dealer Top Workplace awards. In 2004, Bob was recognized as a regional Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ recipient.  The company’s medication knowledge is used by 95% of the nation’s top hospitals and 97% of the top children’s hospitals, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) on its 2016-2017 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, a legacy for the use of medication safety that endures today.

As Bob approached retirement from Lexi-Comp, his passions and compassion flowed into philanthropic pursuits.  Bob believed education of our youth was critical in establishing a solid foundation for their future. His involvement with Breakthrough Schools established scholarship opportunities for Cleveland’s youth at Ohio Northern University, where Bob earned an honorary doctorate and is a trustee fellow.  Bob and Barbara have supported Ohio Northern University and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation over the last several years in pursuit of their missions.

Bob’s favorite vacation spot was the R Lazy S “Dude” Ranch in Jackson, WY, where he spent an average of three weeks every year over the past 25 years, being a “city slicker” as Cowboy Bob. He enjoyed spending time on the beach and on the golf courses at his secondary residence in Sanibel, FL. 

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to all of the extended family, friends, former colleagues, employees, and his incredible care team at the Cleveland Clinic who allowed Bob to fight on his terms.  Bob was the man in control of life through the incredible foundation and strength provided by those who surrounded him.

Preceded in death by his mother Evelyn, father Joseph, and twin granddaughters Sydney Evelyn and Samantha Marie Zapp, he is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara (Floutz); siblings: William (Bonnie) Kerscher, Fred (Gayle) Kerscher, Heidi (Ron) Reiter; children: Kelley (Ted) Engle;  Laurie (Jeff) Zapp, Steven (Jessica Davis) Kerscher; grandchildren: Kayla and Blake Engle, Joseph and Gabrielle Zapp, Keiran and Weston Kerscher,  and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation on December 4th from 2 to 4 PM and 5 to 9 PM at Christ Community Chapel – The Block located at 5374 Darrow Road, Hudson, Ohio 44236. Family and friends are also welcome to attend a Celebration of Bob’s Life on December 5th at 11 AM at Christ Community Chapel located at 750 W Streetsboro Street, Hudson, Ohio 44236.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in memory of Bob to:

Friends of Breakthrough, 3615 Superior Ave. Suite 3103a, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 or online at www.breakthroughschools.org or to the Kerscher Family Fund for Clinical Prostate Cancer Research at Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute, address Cleveland Clinic Foundation, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, Ohio 44193-1655 or online at giving.clevelandclinic.org.