Missing Bob Centilli leaves huge hole in my heart
A life well lived; he gave back to his community after successful career in business as contractor
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2025
Bob Centilli is paving driveways and pouring cement again today. He punched his ticket Wednesday morning for a rainbow ride to Heaven. He was 91.
A story about his life is on today's front page of The Daily Gazette as a man who truly transcended our county's business, political and sports scenes.
He was a special friend for more than 40 years. Bob was a regular visitor around my office for many, many years as my favorite breakfast and lunch companion. We went to ballgames together and in later years, he bought season tickets for wife Joyce at the Whiting Auditorium.
He would often take me and my wife along, all on him every time.
"Hey, I need someone to talk to and you need to make your wife come so Joycie has someone to talk to about these plays and music groups I don't know anything about," he would say every time I'd hesitate about accepting an invitation since I was his "back-up" if no other family members would tag along to fill his other seats next to he and Joyce. He bought extra tickets, just in case someone he knew might like one of the shows or music groups. That kinda exemplifies Bob's thinking about always trying to make others happy.
I'm not sure Joyce knows (you would think the occasional snoring from Bob during a show was a dead giveaway) but becoming a regular at the Whiting wasn't because he loved the shows. It was because she did.
I think that really defines Bob's life. He always did for others what he thought would make them happy.
He built the Veterans Memorial in Burton. Every time we'd get near Burton City Hall together, he would swing by and tell stories about building it as he would make me get out of the vehicle and admire his work.
"Just think, years from now when I'm gone, people can come here and remember their loves ones," he would say over and over, and over. Same line. Every time.
Then there's a pavilion he built at Boome Park. For fans and players to watch games or enjoy a meal together.
He once took me by the arm and showed off a little placqe on the brick wall by the ticket booth. "Tom Cole put that up there for me, and it means a lot to me," he said. "It's getting a little rusty and hard to read. When I'm dead and gone, I want your word that you will shine that up someday so people remember me."
Yep, Bob wanted to be remembered by baseball people.
That's where he most enjoyed life. It was giving back to the game he loved.
Todays front page story tells about all that, and I need more time to properly articulate Bob's impact on this community. I keep needing time out from writing this to wipe away tears.
There are so many stories.
How his work ethic developed on the baeeball sandlots ushered in his traits that led to a successful career as a cement contractor.
How so many were jealous of his success in business that they created all the rumors of "Bob the Mob Man" spread among those who didn't know him.
Anybody who took the time to know Bob would learn one simple fact. He wasn't a mob character but the mob was sure scared of him. You didn't dare cross Bob Centilli or talk badly about one of his friends.
He would laugh privately with me how his massive hands were used to strike fear into people he met with their initial handshake. He was a big guy with the biggest hands ever provided by God to a human being.
"Hey, one handshake and they know to respect me," he uttered often. "I don't care if they like me but they are gonna respect me."
"A good man," was the common comment by other community leaders such as former Genesee County Chief Judge Duncan Beagle and businessman Roger Foutch. These two men rival Centilli as others who transcend the local business, political and sports scenes.
Beagle was a popular lawyer in the business community before a 32-year career on the bench as a judge. He was a standout athlete who once pitched a no-hitter against the Michigan Wolverines. Foutch was a star athlete who made his mark as a legendary coach in the old CBL-West where he led two teams to national championships. He built a successful car wash empire and now owns the mall at the corner of Linden and Corunna roads in Flint Township where his Foutch's Pub is a staple in the community for its great food and even better atmosphere. Next door is his Foutch's Strike Zone where his sponsorship of 21 travel baseball and fastpich softball teams shines with batting cages and instruction by former college and professional players for his family of ballplayers.
"Roger did it right for kids," Centilli once told me as he surveyed the small training center for Foutch's program. "I was jealous for years how he got to win national championships in baseball. But there was nothing for kids like this when I came up. I gave a lot of kids shirts and hats. Roger is giving them a real chance to make it in this game."
And if they don't make it, Bob and Roger shared a vision of using baseball to produce good citizens.
After all his great moments in the game he loved that you can read about on today's front page, Bob became the number one fan of his favorite grandson.
At kickball.
Even his obituary made note of it, saying, "Bob was the #1 fan for Matt’s incredible Kickers Kickball team which has taken first place for 19 consecutive years and attended every game."
Matt Zahn is also a successful realtor today. It was his post on Facebook from an airplane that alerted me to my friend passing away. I can't write a better tribute to who Bob Centilli really was than Matt's moving words as a tribute to his grandpa:
When I was born, I was always told that my grandpa and I formed an immediate bond. There was something special between us, something that changed him. One of the more important ways for him was that it made him give up drinking. Having me in his life gave him a reason to quit, and he never looked back.
When I was about two years old, my mom packed things up and took me to Texas to live with my dad. I believe that my leaving made my grandpa realize how much I really meant to him. My mom was young, homesick, missed family and friends, and after many conveys with my grandparents she decided we would move back to Michigan. My Grandpa would always tell me that the day we came home was the day that changed his life.
He told the story over and over again, about waiting at Bishop Airport with my grandma, scanning over the crowd, looking all over for me. And that’s when he heard it… the pitter patter sound of my little flip-flops running across the ground . He looked over just in time to see me running toward him with my arms reaching out. He scooped me up, and always said that was the moment his whole world changed. He never wanted me to leave again. He told that story so many times, and I never got tired of hearing it.
I can’t help but think it’s a strange coincidence that the moment that changed my life forever also happened at Bishop Airport. It was early Sunday morning on November 9th… The airplane doors had just closed.
Airplane was backing away from the terminal, leaving Bishop Airport, when just seconds before entering airplane mode for the 4 hour flight to Arizona, I got the call from my mom that my best buddy was gone.
Two life-changing moments, both at the same place. The first was when I ran toward him. The second was when I had to let him go.
Grandpa, I will carry every amazing thing about you with me for the rest of my life, every little step of the way.
I wish that I was mentally stronger and that I could’ve spent more time with you in your final days. It was incredibly hard to see the strongest person I’ve ever known, a super hero in my eyes, be taken by the cruel disease that is dementia. Just know that even when the memories faded for you, my love for you never did, and it never will. And know that every part of who I am was shaped by the love and strength you gave me throughout my entire life.
R.I.P Gramps
Funeral arrangements; Visitation will be at 10:00am on Saturday, November 15, 2025 @ St. Mary's Church, 11110 Saginaw St Mount Morris with funeral mass at 11:00-12:00, followed by entombment at Crestwood Cemetery on Hill Rd.
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Mike Killbreath appears on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio via The Morning Gazette Radio Show weekday mornings from 8 am until 10 am. He's an award-winning newspaper columnist and investigative reporter who is the former long-time owner of the local Metro Flint area chain of 14 community newspapers. This fall marks his 50th year as a journalist. He also hosts a new weekly national TV show known as The American Crusaders on cable TV and various OTT TV live streaming platforms.
