Tributes pour in for veteran Belleville West teacher and football coach who passed away
A Belleville West High School teacher and former football coach who died this week is being remembered for his “fun-loving” attitude with his family and students.
Bob Flake’s death was reported to Belleville School District 201 on Thursday, according to Superintendent Brian Mentzer. He was 40.
“Our thoughts are with Bob’s family,” Mentzer said.
A cause of death has not been released. Flake’s survivors include his wife, Angela, and children, Bobby Jr. and Victoria.
“He was a fun-loving guy,” Belleville West Principal Rich Mertens said of Flake. “He always put others first, his family and his students and staff members.
“He just had a great attitude, a positive attitude,” Mertens said.
“I’d greet him during the day, ‘How are you doing Bob?’ and he’d always reply, ‘Living the dream.’”
Flake’s family released a statement on Friday afternoon thanking everyone for the outpouring of love and support, especially from the Belleville West staff and students.
“Bob was truly an amazing father, husband and friend,” the statement said.
He loved teaching and coaching, but especially being a loving and devoted husband to Angela and his two kids Bobby and Victoria, the family said.
Details about memorials and the funeral are still being finalized.
Flake was the department head for the Belleville West science department in recent years and he previously had served as an assistant football coach.
Mertens said Flake was hired at Belleville West in 2006 and he taught biology and veterinary science classes.
Flake did not coach this past football season but he had been on the team’s coaching staff for the prior years of his Belleville West tenure, Mertens said. One of his recent assignments included serving as offensive coordinator.
Mentzer said that Flake had a “wide scope of influence” as leader of the science department and as a football coach.
“He was able to make different connections with different groups of kids and kids with varying interests,” Mentzer said.
How to help
A GoFundMe page called the Flake Family Memorial Fund has been established.
“He didn’t give up on anyone,” the page states. “He prioritized people over things. He understood that you have to give people your time in order to make a difference in their lives, and he gave his time unselfishly.”
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 12:00 PM.
