The Reverend Dr. Robert J. Mccune

The Reverend Dr. Robert J. McCune departed peacefully on September 27, 2021 at the Longview senior living community in Ithaca, New York.

The son of the late James and Isabel (James) McCune Jr., Robert was born on July 5, 1929 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Allegheny College, PA class of 1950, Boston University School of Theology class of 1953, and Drew University, NJ class of 1982 with a Doctorate of Ministry. He met his wife, Alice McCune, at Epworth Woods, a church camp for disadvantaged children where they were both counselors. Married in 1951, Bob and Alice celebrated their 69th anniversary in June of 2020.

Robert served communities in Upstate New York as a United Methodist Minister in many capacities. He served local churches in Cortland, Elmira, and Ithaca, served as a District Superintendent in both Central and Northern New York, and served in the Bishop’s office in Central New York. Bob was known by his colleagues, friends, and parishioners for his strong leadership skills, innovative ideas, and unending support of Christian values within the church and community. He lived out his faith through actions of anti-racism, inclusiveness of all people within the United Methodist Church, pursuit of social justice, and unconditional love. He welcomed the displaced and downtrodden into his home, spent his retirement years with Alice traveling the country doing mission projects with the UMC Nomads, was a strong advocate of collaboration among all faiths for the betterment of humanity and, in all ways, lived his life through service to others.

Bob was a committed and loving husband and father creating a strong family life that enabled his children to witness first hand how to be faithful, compassionate, productive and loving servants to society. As he aged, he was known and admired for his continued pursuit of spiritual and personal growth and an ever expanding world view and openness to new ideas.

Robert is survived by his children and their spouses Nancy and Jeffrey Lovell of Ithaca, James and Beverly McCune of Austin, Texas, David and Sally McCune of Ithaca, and Cindy and William Garver of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and his sister Nancy (Roger) Pierce of Clermont, FL. He has 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his loving wife Alice McCune in 2020. A Memorial service will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 10:30 am. His ashes will be interred at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia, New York.

Bob’s children gratefully acknowledge and thank Gohar Avagyan, Debra Keyser, and Tacoma Perkins, who served Bob as exceptional and selfless caregivers throughout his last year at Longview.

The family asks that those who would like to make a contribution in Robert’s memory kindly consider a donation to Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center