Robert Glenn Best

Robert “Robb” Glenn Best passed away peacefully at home in Worthington, Ohio on Monday, June 15th, due to complications from a glioblastoma brain tumor. He was 70.

Robb was born in LaSalle-Peru, Illinois on February 17th, 1956, the third child of Phyllis Arlene Best and Glenn Rhys Best. An avid basketball player in his youth, he was known for his love of music and mischief. He graduated from Northern Illinois University, where he majored in Philosophy and minored in Poetry.

In January 1981, he met the woman who would become his wife, Mary Gleason. They were married in October of that year, and had two children together. Their shared sense of humor kept them laughing through many adventures and misadventures.

Robb began his career as a public schoolteacher. In the 1980s, he began working as a kitchen designer. He was later promoted into upper management, and ultimately put his love of philosophy and brain science to use as Senior Advisor of Cognitive Strategy for Elkay Manufacturing. In this position, he traveled the world teaching people how to apply neuroscience findings to everything from creating better personal habits to selling more faucets and cabinets. Wherever he went, he made friends, folding them into a loose conglomeration of allies, co-conspirators, and loved ones he called “Best Nation.”

A true Renaissance man, Robb’s interests included playing guitar and piano, writing songs, handcrafting guitars from scratch, building cabinets, weightlifting, writing books, giving nicknames to everyone he came across, and learning about the workings of the human mind. He was a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a grandfather, and great-uncle, a cousin, a work mentor, and a friend. He traveled to all fifty states, as well as England, Ireland, Wales, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, China, Mexico, and Japan.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, his daughter, Jessica Best, his son, Casey Best (Lauren Carter Best) his grandchildren Rowan and Maisie, his sisters Judy Best (Robert Riga) and Janis Cintron, his niece, Colleen Cintron Rivelli (Taylor Rivelli) his grandnieces Sofia and Zenna, his nephews Glenn Best and Ben Gleason, his nieces Robin Best and Megan Gleason and a wide circle of cousins and friends.

Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are preferred to Ohio Hospice or the Glioblastoma Foundation.