Born on January 1, 1943, Bob grew up in Detroit and Huntington Woods and graduated from Royal Oak Dondero High School where he led the Debate Team.  He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a lawyer.

 

Bob earned his B.A. degree in political science from Michigan State University where he was very active in student affairs, including being the Speaker of the Student Congress and the President of the Young Democrats.

 

After MSU Bob attended Wayne State University Law School where he was one of the top-ranked students in his class.  However, with the Vietnam War raging, he left law school after the third semester and volunteered to join the United States Marine Corps.  Following his tour of duty he returned to law school, at the University of Michigan, and graduated in 1970.

 

Bob came to Kalamazoo in 1970 as the law clerk for Federal Judge W. Wallace Kent on both the Federal District Court and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Following that job he has practiced law in Kalamazoo for 35years and joined Stancati & Associates in 2003.  Bob and his wife, Karen, reside in Texas Township. 

 

Bob’s legal practice includes family law, commercial and residential real estate (including litigation, purchase and sales, landlord/tenant), business law, collections, bankruptcy (representing both creditors and debtors), and a variety of other areas.

 

Bob has been a member of the Kalamazoo County Trial Lawyers Association for almost 25 years, including a term as its president.  Early in his career he was chairman of the Young Lawyers Section of the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and he is a member of that organization and the State Bar of Michigan.  He is currently a member of the State Bar’s Real Estate, Business Law and Probate Sections, and has been a member of several others including the Family Law Section.  He is a charter member of the Kalamazoo County Family Law Bar Association.  Bob is also a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and believes that lawyers have a special duty to protect our rights and liberties.

 

Bob is licensed to practice in all Michigan courts and administrative tribunals, the Federal District Courts in Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

Bob has always been involved in service to the community.  He is a member of the Kalamazoo Sunrise Rotary Club and is also very active in veterans’ activities.  A long-time member of the Kalamazoo Detachment of the Marine Corps League, he has served as its commandant and for many years has been the Judge Advocate of the Marine Corps League Department of Michigan.  For the last several years he has been a principal organizer of the Kalamazoo County Veterans Day Program and he was the chairman and organizer of the Kalamazoo County Memorial Day Parade in 2004 and 2005.   He is also a member of the VFW Red Arrow Post #1527 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

 

Bob’s past community service includes eight years on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Kalamazoo (including a term as President), a member of the County Committee of the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party, and other activities.

 

When not working, Bob likes to travel and is particularly interested in American history.  He is a member of the Kalamazoo Civil War Roundtable which he served as treasurer for many years.