When Robert “Bob” Mikan was in public, it would be rare to see him in anything but a suit and tie. It was a uniform for the longtime car dealership owner, who even in retirement would sit in the Mikan Motor Company lobby — seated in his green chair — and make sure everyone who came in was treated well.

And while Mikan was dedicated to the business, his priorities weren't misplaced — even if he still wore his jacket.

“When I was a kid, he'd come home for dinner and then have to go back to work,” his son, David Mikan, said. “I'd beg him to play catch with me, and after dinner he'd play catch with me in the back yard in his suit and tie.”

Mikan, who died at age 88 Monday, had many responsibilities: his family, community service, his business, even a stint in the U.S. Navy. Despite the weight on his shoulders, though, his family says he never failed to meet his duties as an honest, fair and kind man.From the age of 4 or 5, Mikan followed his father, Ivan, around Mikan Motors in Trafford, spending time in the garage and tinkering. In Trafford, he sold his first car, a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo. Mikan joined the Rotary Club in Trafford in 1954, and was drafted into the Navy in 1955, where he served aboard the USS Edisto.When Mikan's tour ended, he joined the Navy Reserves for four years and returned to Trafford, where he continued the family business. In 1961, Mikan married Nancy Majernik and, over the course of the next eight years, had three children. In 1969, the Mikans had David, their third child, and moved to Butler, where Mikan expanded the business his father founded as a Pontiac dealership.There, Mikan established himself as the kind, honest dealer who anchored Butler for decades.“He was so kind to everybody,” David Mikan said. “I never saw him angry, and I worked with him from 1992 to 2015. He was always very kind, and he loved his job.”That kindness was felt by everyone alike, from customers to employees.Mark Adams, who worked for Mikan for 30 years, said he stayed that long because Mikan was “just a nice guy.”“When I first started there, I made a mistake on a lease and ended up costing the business $700 and some,” he said. “When I found out I made the mistake, I went to the office manager and wrote a check for the amount of money that it cost. That was in May, and it was my vacation money I was supposed to go on in June. Then, in December, ... he gave me my check back” while giving out Christmas bonuses.The Mikan family business continued to grow, and the company began selling Isuzu cars in 1984 and Volkswagen in 1988. Mikan became known by those in the industry just as he was known in the community. He was active in the Pennsylvania Automotive Dealer Association, served as director for the Pittsburgh Automotive Dealer Association and was on the board of a Western Pennsylvania auto dealers group.Outside of work, Mikan's hard work shone. He was active in the Butler PM Rotary, holding an antique car show at the dealership each September and donating the proceeds to support the Rotary's Turkey Round-Up.“He loved the Rotary,” David Mikan said. “He really did, which is why we're asking for donations to the Rotary in his name.”Mikan's personality had a positive impact on those around him, Adams said. He described Mikan as “the same person” at work and away from work, saying his kindness was unimpeachable.“I don't care who you talk to,” he said. “Nobody will have a bad word to say. And in the car business, that's hard to do.”The kindness came home too, and Mikan put his family first. David Mikan described him as “a great dad,” and his playing catch with his father will stay with him.“To this day, I have two sons and I love to play catch because of that,” he said.When Mikan's children started families of their own, that love of family continued.“He loved watching them play as much as he did with me playing in the back yard,” David Mikan said.From the dealership to the dining room, Mikan's kindness, caring and genuine self made a great impact on his family and those around him.“When he could drive any car he wanted, he drove the little service pickup truck,” Adams said. “He wasn't flashy, he wasn't extravagant — which he could've been. He was just down-to-earth.”

Robert Mikan