Robert S. Sundt

Robert “Bob” Stout Sundt passed away on September 10, 2024.

            Bob, retired President of M. M. Sundt Construction Co., was an esteemed local, national, and international leader in the construction industry.

            Born November 22, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA., Bob’s early schooling occurred at Wenonah, New Jersey Elementary School.  Family travels resulted in his completing elementary school in Tucson and Wenonah, and then graduating from Woodbury, New Jersey High School as President of the class of 1944.  He was active in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 31 of Wenonah.

            Bob went on to attend Swarthmore College before enlisting in the U. S. Navy in November 1944 as a Hospital Corpsman.  He served at St. Albans Naval Hospital in Jamaica, Long Island and then aboard the USS Benevolence and USS Hermitage in the Pacific.  Discharged in 1946, Bob returned to Swarthmore and then transferred to the University of Arizona, from which he graduated in 1950 with a degree from the Business College.

            Bob started work on a full-time basis at M. M. Sundt Construction in May of 1950 and retired from the organization in June 1992.  His work with Sundt drew him to projects in Nogales, Ft. Huachuca, Ganado, and Flagstaff in Arizona, and Santa Maria, California. Bob then became President and Managing Director of Arabian Sundt Ltd. From 1975 through 1986 on work performed in Saudi Arabia.

            Bob was a Life Director of the Associated General Contractors of America, from which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award, and past Chairman of its Heavy Industrial Division and past President of its Arizona Building Chapter. Bob was also past Chair of the Consulting Contractors Council of America and a founding board member of the Construction Industry Presidents’ Forum.

            Bob served Tucson and Arizona capacities.  He was a 13-year member of the Board of Directors of Southwest Gas Corporation, was a former member of the Arizona State Retirement System Board of Directors, was of the Board of Directors of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and was a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce.

            Bob belonged to the Rotary Club of Tucson, the Old Pueblo Club, Tucson Elks Lodge 385, Tucson Country Club, Ventana Golf and Racquet Club, Pinetop Country Club, University of Arizona Wildcat Club, University of Arizona President’s Club, and was a founding member of the Davis Monthan 50 group.  He was the recipient pf a DMAFB Community Wingman Award, 1993 Founders Award from the Tucson Chamber of Commerce, the SIR (Skill, Integrity, Responsibility) Award from the Associated General Contractors Arizona Building Chapter and the Construction Industry Good Scout Award from the Catalina Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  In 1989, Bob received the Built Environment Excellence Award from the National Advisory Council of the University of Arizona College of Agriculture.

            Bob is survived by his daughter Thea Sundt-Myers (husband Mason), granddaughter Caylei (great-granddaughter Genevieve), granddaughter Nicolle, daughter-in-law Karen (grandson Eric), and Mason’s son Robert (wife Michelle and sons Jonathan, Elliot, Mason, and Luke).

            A celebration of Bob’s life and his love of family and friends will be held at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6565 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ, 85710, at 2 pm on Saturday, October 12.

            In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christ Presbyterian Church, the Boy Scouts at 5049 E. Broadway, Tucson, 85711, or a charity of your choice.