Robert Lefley

Robert (Bob) Lefley was born on March 20, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Irving Phillip Lefley and Augusta (Fox) Lefley. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, attending Joyce Kilmer Grade School and Lane Technical High School. At Lane, he excelled academically and athletically, helping his team win the Illinois High School State Diving Championship in 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945. Robert worked on the school paper, eventually becoming the editor, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of the craft of writing and the art of publication design.

After high school, Robert enlisted in the United States Army on July 6, 1945. During his military service, he worked as an athletic instructor and clerk typist. He also appeared as one of two voice actors on the radio program Divisional Diary, broadcast nationally over the Mutual Broadcasting System from North Post Fort Myer, Virginia. He held the rank of corporal at the time of his discharge in 1946.

Upon returning home to Chicago, Robert attended Loyola University of Chicago for one semester and summer school in 1947, and later studied at Roosevelt College in 1948.

He then enrolled at Northwestern University, first in the College of Liberal Arts before transferring to the Medill School of Journalism. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 1950 and a Master of Arts in Journalism in 1951. At Northwestern, he was a member of the Dolphin Club in spring 1949, served on the editorial board of The Daily Northwestern from 1949 to 1950, and accepted membership in Sigma Delta Chi, the national professional journalism fraternity, in 1950.

After graduate school, Robert worked as a reporter and picture story producer for LOOK and Quick magazines from 1951 to 1952. He later became editorial director for Chicago radio station WFMT-FM from 1954 to 1961, and managing editor of its magazine, WFMT Perspective (later titled Perspective on Ideas and the Arts), from 1961 to 1963. That publication eventually evolved into Chicago magazine.

In 1964, Robert became manager of press relations for Northwestern University, serving until 1969. He later worked as director of information for the Chicago Housing Authority from 1971 to 1980. From 1981 until his retirement in 1993, he served as editor of Inland Now, the journal of Inland Steel Industries, and assistant manager of media and public relations for the company.

In retirement, Robert pursued his many interests, including sailing on Lake Michigan with friends and family. His foremost passion, however, was music. A lifelong fan of folk, country blues, and especially classical and opera, he spent countless hours listening to WFMT while reading the newspaper, of course.

In 1976, the family moved from Chicago to Wilmette, Illinois, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He is survived, and dearly missed, by his wife of 65 years, Doris Ballinger, whom he married on January 18, 1959, and their two children: son Joshua (Wilmette, IL), and daughter Janet and her husband, Daniel Applebaum (Portugal).

A remembrance for Robert will be announced shortly and posted here and on Doris’ Facebook page with the date, location and details.

In lieu of flowers, Bob and Doris would kindly ask you to donate to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Please click Donate under Donations below.