Robert L. "Bob" Coon

Robert Larry Coon Robert Larry "Big Bob" Coon of Horseheads, N.Y., passed away May 10, 2018, in Horseheads after a lengthy illness. He was 58. Bob was born on May 20, 1959, in Washington, D.C., to Larry Duane Coon, a Washington, D.C., firefighter, and Margaret Anor (Michalke) Coon. Bob graduated from Horseheads High School in 1977 and attended Corning Community College. Bob worked in construction, factories, and bartending continuously into his 30s. Bob then worked as a full-time bartender, first at the Elmira City Club through the 1990s and then at Tanino's Restaurant in Horseheads in the 2000s. Bob loved smiling and being with friends, and he had many. He was a big guy who loved helping his family and friends whenever they needed anything--renovating and making repairs around their homes, repairing their cars, hauling stuff away, whatever needed to be done, just call Bob. Bob loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, conservation, talking sports and politics, and auto racing, especially at Watkins Glen International, where he worked security (bouncer, because he could) at the Turn 10 grandstand for a number of years. Bob was predeceased by his father, Larry, in 1994, and his beloved cats Zeb and Esther. Bob is survived by his mother, Anor, of Webster, N.Y.; brother Charles Coon, sister-in-law Gul Alisan, and niece Zoe Sena Alisan-Coon of Maryland; brother Bernard Coon, niece Madison Coon, and sister-in-law Becky Ryan-Coon of Horseheads; brother Gregory Coon and sister-in-law Amy Kane of Farmington, N.Y.; sister Arlene Bainbridge, brother-in-law Gregg Bainbridge, and nephew William Bainbridge of Webster, N.Y.; his beloved cat Simba; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Friends are invited by Bob's family to help celebrate his life from 2-5 p.m., Saturday, May 19, at the Horseheads Fire Department, 134 North Main Street, Horseheads, N.Y., 14845, and afterward socialize in Hanover Square. Bob will be cremated and his ashes spread at a later date in a ceremony near Seneca Lake, where he loved to fish and spend time. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations in Bob's name to the Horseheads Community Animal Shelter, Inc., 150 Wygant Road, Horseheads, N.Y., 14845. You can donate in person, or at horseheadscommunityanimalshelter.com, or you can adopt one of their pets, which is where he got his cats and where he served as a volunteer. Condolences and words of comfort may be expressed at Bob's Book of Memories at www.sullivansfuneralhome.com.