Bobby Kuntz
Encyclopedia
Robert John "Bobby" Kuntz Sr. (January 10, 1932 – February 7, 2011), was a former professional Canadian football
linebacker
who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League
for the Toronto Argonauts
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
. He was a part of the Tiger-Cats 1963 and 1965 Grey Cup
winning teams.
Kuntz's football career began when he moved from Cleveland to Kitchener
, Ontario. He was discouraged by football coaches in Cleveland, but at St. Jerome's High School he found Clem Faust, a coach willing to support his desire to play. After playing for McMaster University
in Hamilton, and a senior football team in Ontario, he was signed by the Argonauts in 1955 to play his first full season in the CFL. Ten years later, his older brother David died and he was forced with a difficult decision: to return home to join the family electroplating business, or to continue playing football. His decision to return home was short-lived, after only a few months he was coaxed out of retirement by Jim Trimble, coach of the Argo's main rival, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
During his time in the CFL, Bobby was a fan favourite, particularly in his home town of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Upon his return home after retirement, and rejoining the family business, he become heavily involved in the community. Bobby was a founding member of St. Francis Assisi Parish, and involved with St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation, Mosaic Counselling and Family Services, the United Way, the Congregation of the Resurrection and St. Jerome’s University.
Kuntz was the co-owner of the family's surface finishing company Kuntz Electroplating. He was involved with the business from his retirement in 1966 from football until shortly before his death along with his brother Paul who predeceased him in early 2011. Bobby was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2000, and lived in nursing homes in the last years of his life.
On February 7, 2011, Kuntz died due to complications from Parkinson's disease
at the age of 79 in Waterloo, Ontario
, surrounded by his wife and children.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
for the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
. He was a part of the Tiger-Cats 1963 and 1965 Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
winning teams.
Kuntz's football career began when he moved from Cleveland to Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, Ontario. He was discouraged by football coaches in Cleveland, but at St. Jerome's High School he found Clem Faust, a coach willing to support his desire to play. After playing for McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton, and a senior football team in Ontario, he was signed by the Argonauts in 1955 to play his first full season in the CFL. Ten years later, his older brother David died and he was forced with a difficult decision: to return home to join the family electroplating business, or to continue playing football. His decision to return home was short-lived, after only a few months he was coaxed out of retirement by Jim Trimble, coach of the Argo's main rival, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
During his time in the CFL, Bobby was a fan favourite, particularly in his home town of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Upon his return home after retirement, and rejoining the family business, he become heavily involved in the community. Bobby was a founding member of St. Francis Assisi Parish, and involved with St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation, Mosaic Counselling and Family Services, the United Way, the Congregation of the Resurrection and St. Jerome’s University.
Kuntz was the co-owner of the family's surface finishing company Kuntz Electroplating. He was involved with the business from his retirement in 1966 from football until shortly before his death along with his brother Paul who predeceased him in early 2011. Bobby was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2000, and lived in nursing homes in the last years of his life.
On February 7, 2011, Kuntz died due to complications from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
at the age of 79 in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, surrounded by his wife and children.
External links
- Kuntz.com Kuntz Electroplating - History of Bobby Kuntz and the CFL
- http://waterlooregionmuseum.com/region-hall-of-fame/inductees---j-to-l.aspx Waterloo Region Museum Hall of Fame Inductees List