Remembering Bob Abt

“Bob was truly an incredible man and an inspiring leader. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing him could feel the kindness and generosity that radiated from his heart. I learned so much from him over the years. Bob’s wisdom lives on in everyone he touched. I’m forever grateful for the lessons he shared and the example he set.”

“Do you guys want to be right, or do you want to be successful?" This simple question has stuck with me and guided my decisions both professional and personal ever since.”

“Bob was like a second father to me, offering advice on life and work, and guiding me through my career at Abt. I was given chances and opportunities that most people don't get, including closing the store at night with Bob, the greatest mentor to ever be. I will be forever grateful and loyal to Abt, holding it close to my heart as if it were my own company.”

“Bob lives in my memory as one of the most incredible and impactful people I have ever met. He had this amazing ability to see people, to really understand their strengths and weaknesses, and knew how to inspire them to be the best versions of themselves. I feel honored to have known him, and hope that I live to be a fraction of the leader he was. He is truly missed.”

“In 2000, I was working on the design for Abt's new store in Glenview. I wanted to add an Atrium, but Mr. Abt wasn't sure it would fit with Abt's normal style. A week later he went to Las Vegas and stayed at the newly-opened Bellagio. He was so impressed with their conservatory that when he returned, he approved the Atrium and wanted to add flowers, fountains, skylights, and stone columns to the design. He sent me to Vegas, and I came up with a plan to make it happen."

“I’ll never forget how nervous I was as a new hire—this place did things differently, and I had never worked for a company that truly cared about its customers. It was eye-opening to see how good it felt to help someone and know they were genuinely happy. While the phrase “the answer is always yes to any reasonable request” was new to me, the quote that stuck was: “Always do the right thing.” That simple principle has become my mantra—thank you, Mr. Abt.”

“Bob Abt put a lot of passion into everything he did and kept everybody on their toes. He was a man of few words and always let his actions speak for him. When he was happy with your performance, he would say: ‘On the ball!’”

“I was talking with Bob and I mentioned that me and my wife were heading out to Palm Springs for a short vacation next week. He said, 'Hold on a moment,' took out his cell phone, and called his golf club out there to tell the manager that my wife and I would be coming out to the club the next week and that lunch would be on Bob. That was cool.”

"One time, I asked Bob for a chance to move into custom audio installs, and he said, 'As long as I’m here closing, you’ll be closing with me.' Twenty-five years have passed—and I’m still here."

“My favorite Bob Abt moment was when he invited me to boxing night at Twin Orchard. One of the members came over to the table and asked him if I was one of his guys. Bob turned to the man and said, “He’s one of my friends.” He always knew what to say to make you feel like more than just an employee.”

“Mr. Abt had a vision and dedication that inspired everyone to strive for excellence. One of my favorite memories with him was going to Disney on Ice with his grandchildren. Every time the kids jumped for joy, Mr. Abt would chuckle—and that chuckle still lives in the store. I’m grateful to have worked with you and for the positive impact you made on me. Thank you for being the kind of leader who lifted others up and inspired them.”

“Every Sunday at 5:00 PM when I worked in Custom AV, Mr. Abt would quietly appear in front of my desk to check in on the department. It always made me smile how he’d show up so suddenly—almost out of nowhere. When I first started, I was nervous during those visits, but looking back, I truly appreciated how dedicated he was to checking in on every department.”