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Poland Councilman Bob Limmer remembered by colleagues
By Bruce Walton
POLAND
The village lost a neighbor, a councilman, a husband and a friend this week when Henry Robert “Bob” Limmer, 82, died of congestive heart failure.
He died early Wednesday at his home.
Though some people in the village knew about his health struggles, fiscal officer Nick Srnec said it came to a surprise that Limmer’s death occurred so suddenly.
“We saw him here at the last meeting [March 21], and he seemed like himself,” Srnec said.
Srnec knew Limmer for more than five years. He said he always enjoyed arriving at council meetings early to talk with Limmer and other council members about personal and family life before the meetings began. He described him as a diligent and kind man who will be missed.
“He was a very nice guy. He was very thorough. He paid attention to legal detail,” he said. “It was almost like having two solicitors.”
Mayor Tim Sicafuse knew Limmer for a decade. He said the nicest thing about the councilman was his service to the village as a non-Poland native.
“It was nice of him not being from this town and [he] still wanted to be involved,” Sicafuse said. “He took an active part in the community when he wasn’t even from this community, and that speaks volumes to me.”
Limmer was born Sept. 20, 1934, in the Bronx, N.Y. After graduating from high school in 1952, he received a bachelor’s degree from City College of New York in 1956, obtained his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1960, and he later served in the Army as an infantry first lieutenant.
He began his legal career as an associate attorney with the Wall Street firm of Simpson Thacher and Bartlett.
He was a councilman for 16 years. Until his death, he also served as a member of council’s Buildings, Lands, Utilities, Parks, & Recreation Committee, Finance, Wage, & Insurance Committee and the Legislation & Policy Committee.
Though Limmer’s term will end at the end of this year, council members will soon begin a search for his replacement.
He leaves his wife, Maryann, two daughters, two stepdaughters and eight grandchildren.
Calling hours are from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland, and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown, where he was a member. A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the church.
Tribute on page A9.