Robert Michael Shirilla, age 63, a ten year resident of Colorado Springs and formerly of Los Angeles, California, passed away unexpectedly on January 9, 2013 at his home in Colorado Springs. He was born on March 21, 1949 in Youngstown, Ohio.
Robert is survived by his brother: John (Chery Schweigert) Shirilla; nieces and nephews: Bradley, Katie, Michael, and Brad (Brooke) Schweigert; two uncles: John (Vivian) Shirilla and John O’Shea; and an aunt: Loretta Conroy; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents: Mike and Jayne (O’Shea) Shirilla; uncles: Dan (Dorothy) Shirilla and Nick Conroy; and aunts: Margie (Frank) Culbertson, Marge (Ernest) Young, and Norma O’Shea.
Robert (Bob) graduated from UCLA, Magna Cum Laude, with degree in Economics and earned his MBA at the Harvard Business School, with Honors. After being a Senior Partner with Stanton Chase International and managing the consumer goods practice in 35 countries, he moved from California to Colorado in 2004. He enjoyed Colorado and was a Professor of Management at Colorado State University teaching both undergraduates and graduate MBA students. He loved running and ran 45 marathons in four years.
Bob was a retired Army Colonel graduating from the Army War College, Command and General Staff College and the national Defense University.’
Being an active member in the community, he volunteered with the El Paso Human Services Commission, El Paso County Outreach Group, and the El Paso County Republican Party.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home and from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel. Funeral Services with Army Honors will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging area “A” in Denver, Colorado.
Memorials in Robert’s name may be made to the Junior Achievement of Southern Colorado; University of California Department of Neurology for the Robert M. Shirilla Fund for Stroke Research; or the Robert M. Shirilla Endowed Alzheimer’s Prevention Fund UCLA Center on Aging.