Robert Joseph Lutz, MD (aka “Doctor Bob”) passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025, in the company of his family. He was 97. Bob was born in Illinois and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 1946, the Ohio State University in 1949 (a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon), and OSU Medical School in 1953. He became a Captain and flight surgeon while in the Air Force, 1954- 56, with a degree in Aviation Medicine in 1954. After a brief stint as a rural doctor in Indiana, he did his Pediatric residency at OSU with emphasis in Neonatology 1960-1962. He and his family then moved to Dayton, where he practiced as a dedicated and talented pediatrician at South Dayton Pediatrics.
He was a staff physician in Neonatology at Dayton Children’s Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital and Kettering Hospital, serving as Chief of Staff at Dayton Children’s as well as Kettering Hospital for several years. He served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Wright State University School of Medicine. He volunteered as team doctor for the Lumberjacks Football squad a number of years. After a brief “retirement” to Breckenridge, CO in the 1990s, Bob returned to Dayton where he practiced pediatrics part time until he finally retired from practice in 2011.
Bob loved sports and the outdoors. He played tennis and golf. He took his family camping, fishing, hunting, waterskiing, snow skiing and boating. He could even waterski backwards! He remained active and water skied last at age 80, and snow skied last at 89. He parachuted at 90. He cycled into his 90's.
Bob loved to dance. In his later years, he was in a number of dance clubs. He danced for hours at weddings and elsewhere (including NOLA Jazz Fest) with family and friends, even when he needed a walker. He also loved to play bridge, which he had learned from his parents (his mother Eleanor Lutz in particular) during the Depression. He played both with friends and competitively, ultimately becoming a Grand Life Master.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents William Herbert Lutz (whom Bob admired more than anyone else) and Maude Eleanor Lutz (nee Langham), and his brothers Bill (William Herbert Jr.) and Dick (Richard). He is survived by his 4 children and their spouses (Jerry and KC Lutz, Dr. Jim and Annie Lutz, Dr. Pam Lutz and Dr. Adam Levy, Jeff and Kathy Lutz), his 9 grandchildren (Dr. Alison Lutz (Justin Bourne), Emily Sanfelippo (Jon), Mark Lutz (Christy), Rosie Lutz, Annie Damewood (French) Spencer Levy, Marie Lutz, Liza Hollingsworth (Ryan), Fletcher Levy and 6 great- grandchildren (Susie, Ellie and Lily Lutz, Charlie and Anne Marie Sanfelippo and Remy Bourne), as well as his sister-in law Pat Lutz, his nieces and nephews, and their children and grandchildren. VISITATION: Family will greet friends from 3:00pm - 5:00pm on December 6th at Routsong of Kettering. SPECIAL THANK YOU: to the wonderful community at 10 Wilmington Place where he lived the last 8 years of his life.
Routsong Funeral Home
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