Remembering Bob Bagans, former Sewickley Valley YMCA program director, Key Club administrator

Bob Bagans may not have had relatives living in Sewickley, but many considered him as close as family.

“He was a very dear friend,” said Bob Kluz, a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Sewickley with Bagans. “Bob was a big part of this community, and this community took care of Bob. It’s a big loss. It’s like one of the spirits of the community is gone.”

Bagans died Feb. 9 at UPMC Shadyside hospital. He was 77.

Friends said Bagans dedicated his life to helping others. He moved from Little Falls, N.Y., to the borough to take a job as program director at the Sewickley Valley YMCA in 1973.

He joined the Cochran Hose Company in June 1974 and retired in December 2014.

“A true friend to many,” said Jeff Neff, former Cochran fire chief and current council president. “Not a mean bone in his body. God bless him in his journey to heaven as he will be looking down on all of us to make sure we are safe.”

Neff first met Bagans at the YMCA. He was a Key Club advisor while Neff was in high school.

Bagans served as district administrator for Key Club International’s Pennsylvania district from 1986 through March 2013.

It was during that time he met Patricia Black, Riverview High School’s legendary librarian and Key Club advisor.

“He was the big cheese in the state,” Black said. “We had 10,000 kids involved in that. He was good with kids. We used to play good cop, bad cop. You want to guess who the bad cop was?

“I would handle all the discipline and whatnot. He would do everything else. We took the kids to international conventions. We were all over the country. He just was into service, the community, teaching kids how to help other people.”

The two had become close friends, much like Kluz, for more than three decades.

“He’d say a lot to me, and I’d give it back, too,” Black said. “He didn’t have a temper. He was very even-keeled. He made kids do things that they didn’t know they could do, that they could succeed at.”

Key Club International created an award in his honor years ago called the Robert “Bob” E. Bagans Unsung Hero Award.

“This award recognizes those Key Club members who just like Bob, work hard and show their dedication to the organization,” according to a Pennsylvania District description of the award. “(The) nominated member may not hold an executive office, but participate to their fullest extent. The member might not have the most service hours, but he or she is one that always attends meetings and is there to lend a helping hand whenever needed.”

Bagans was an event chairman and Sewickley Kiwanis Club president for years. He was instrumental in the success of the annual Harvest Festival and many other projects.

Kluz said one of the latest projects prior to Bagans’ passing was a partnership with Laughlin Children’s Center in Sewickley. They worked to help purchase computers and hearing equipment.

Bagans was a self-employed painter who loved NASCAR, traveling, skiing and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also volunteered at Brother’s Brother.

Bagans was not married and had no children. Black helped coordinate his funeral and services at Copeland Funeral Homes. He received a firefighter’s sendoff with trucks and bagpipes.

Friends suggested donations in his name to the Laughlin Children’s Center, 424 Frederick Ave., or the Sewickley Presbyterian Church at 414 Grant St.