01/13/2026
Robert Barr Dixon, born June 5, 1947 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, sadly and unexpectedly passed away on January 5, 2026 at the age of 78.
In his early life, he participated in Little League Baseball, Swim Team (butterflier), Marching Band (Drum Line and Drum Major), and Summer Camp Counseling. He was president of Bethel Park Honor Society his senior year, as well as the organizer of the 1964 Senior Band Show at Bethel Park High School (Bethel Park, Pennsylvania).
He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 1964, a year early due to being advanced a grade level during his 4th grade year, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1968. While a student at MIT, he was a butterflier on the Men’s Swim Team and the Coxen on the Men’s Rowing Team, often recalling with much humor the time he was accidentally responsible for running Harvard’s boat off course during a Regatta in Boston. While he always claimed his “grades weren’t too good at MIT,” he was offered a full scholarship to Northwestern University, which was #1 in the country at that time. Two quarters into the program, after expressing frustration with academia to his advisor, he was referred to the VP at Inland Steel Research Labs in East Chicago, Indiana and offered one of the first Northwestern Engineering Work-Study positions. He worked at Inland during the week then went to class Friday nights and Saturdays until he graduated with a Masters in Material Science Degree in 1970.
He married Judith (Hering) Dixon on December 30th, 1972 and built a life with her and his beloved miniature schnauzer, Tasha, in Gary, Indiana until he crossed paths with a former MIT lab instructor at an international technical conference in NYC, who offered him a job at Crucible Steel in Syracuse, NY. Motivated by the desire to shift gears professionally and the opportunity to move closer to Judy’s family in Ontario, Canada, he made the move to Sunny Syracuse in March 1975 to launch his spectacular career with Crucible. He played an integral role with Crucible, a pioneer in the steel industry, birthing both Vacuum Arc Remelted (VAR) steels and Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM), otherwise known as “powder steels.” He played a key role in the development of processes creating the hardest steels in the world, designed to cut other steels and serve in high-intensity systems such as jet-engine valves. He paved the way for Crucible to dominate the tool and dye steel industry globally, up until the economic crisis of 2009. He served as one of Crucible’s pillars until he shifted gears again in 1995; that foundation established him as a well-known figure in the international steel industry until he retired in 2025.
In 1995, he made the move to Abar Ibsen Heat Treating in Philadelphia, PA, where he remained for one year. Because his passion remained in the actual chemistry of steel production, he returned to Crucible in 1996, this time in Pittsburgh, PA, to lead their research lab and eventually serve as President of the lab. He continued in that role for a couple of years before transitioning to international consulting.
In 2009, he made the most extreme, and what he said was the most significant, move to Toledo, OH and was scooped up by Bohler Steel Company out of Austria, where he consulted as an old school, metallurgy guru until Summer ish of 2025. He credited this amazing career of 50+ years to his network of coworkers and friends and “being in the right place at the right time.”
Friends and coworkers, however, admired and valued his significant knowledge in the field, his inherent meticulousness, his fiery delivery of invaluable expertise, and his heart of gold. He is remembered as a man devoted to the workers in the steel mill, a professional wanting the best for his customers, and mentor who would “show you once, teach you twice, then expect you to have it on the third (strike).” He never picked sides between the mill, the customers, and the corporation; he believed that the right thing to do was simply to do the right thing.
Outside of his career in the Steel Industry, he was an Age Group Swim Coach at the Hobart YMCA in Gary, Indiana through 1973. He then became the strongest advocate for and most devoted fan of his children. He announced most if not every swim meet in which we participated throughout the Syracuse area, and later in Sylvania when his grandchildren swam, calculated diving scores in his head and dazzled our friends, offered the last thunderous words of encouragement as we dove off the blocks, documented every race and every time, surveyed every youth orchestra rehearsal from the front row of the balcony, encouraged his daughter to stick with the viola rather than switch to the flute, told his son to study the broad field of Civil Engineering rather than the competitive profession of architecture, and provided a solid foundation for his children’s lives. He taught his children to work hard and do nothing “half-assed. If you’re going to do it, do it right.” He expected and encouraged his children to be dedicated, trustworthy, loyal, independent problem solvers. He encouraged them to simply make a difference.
His life flourished when he made the move to Toledo, OH. He got his grandkids on the bus during the elementary years everyday, which he just recently said, again, changed his life. He was a volunteer Swim Coach for the Sylvania Northview Varsity Swim Team, 2015-2019. He didn’t miss a practice or meet, even when going through chemo treatments. The new swimmers could count on him to teach them the hardest stroke (butterfly), encourage and motivate them at the meets, and make them toe the line. The seasoned swimmers could count on his encouragement and love of the whole thing. His grandchildren could count on him being so very proud of every race and those same thunderous words as they dove off the blocks. In the beginning of his high school coaching endeavor, he took notes on the “nomenclature” of swimming and in the end, became the biggest fan and support staff to all who crossed his path on the pool deck. In addition to coaching, he was the Treasurer and Announcer for Glass City Synchronized Swim Team 2011-2013. He volunteered for every single Northview Band and Orchestra event 2015-2019, including hosting 11 members of the University of Akron Marching Band Drumline, ovenight, at his house, with breakfast included. He attended most if not all of his grandkids sporting and music events, including orchestra concerts at THE Ohio State University and swim meets and water polo games way out of town.
Although geographically far away from his son, Aaron, and his daughter, Cori, and their families, he was never far from them in spirit and support. He visited Cori as often as he could and devoted himself to ensuring that she and her family were secure in their household. He continued to be Aaron’s biggest fan when he opted to pursue a career in army rather than transition to a civilian life of engineering. He traveled across the globe to visit Aaron and his family wherever the Army placed them, including a trip to Korea and a couple trips to Germany. He attended every promotion, graduation, and change of command that he could, including traveling to Germany for his granddaughter’s high school graduation. With every phone call, every text, and every letter, he was hungry for updates on everyone’s lives, thirsty for pictures, and enthusiastic to be involved. He made the “away team” families feel just as loved as if they were living next door.
He was the manager, groupie, staunch critic, and beloved “Cat Master” of Tango Gato String Quartet 2017 through his final gig on Dec 28th. He was quick to give a solid thumbs-down when he didn’t like the piece, offer advice about what the coffee shop people liked and didn’t, initiate a round of applause when he liked what he heard, say “faster!” (“Soon May The Wellermen Come” and “Csardas”) or “oh yeah” (“Wonderful World”) when the music called for it, and buy a round of coffees for the musicians at each coffee house gig. He was a weekly groupie at Sylvania Community Orchestra and then Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra rehearsals and performances from 2017 until his final concert on Dec 5th.
In addition to his family, he was an avid Fan of PENN State, Syracuse University, All Things Swimming, Les Mis, League of Their Own, Leah Solonga, Veterinarian Shows on TLC, CNN, his beloved Subaru, and grand dog and cats Jessie, Theo, and Phoebe. He was the bestest roommate to his grandcat, Darling Cosette. He was a good friend, chatty conversationalist, and outspoken advocate for many at Glass Peaks Senior Living.
He was the proud father and biggest fan of Melissa (Dixon) Burke (Mike), Colonel Aaron B. Dixon (Ashley), and Cori E. (Dixon) Powell (Troy).
He was the proud Puppa, even bigger fan, and generous, generous supporter of McKenna A. Burke, Gavin R. Burke, Juliahna K. Dixon, Ethan R. Dixon, Elionna K. Dixon, Jasper L.B. Dixon, and Christopher A. Powell.
He is survived by his ex-wife of 36 years, Judy, whom he often asked about to make sure she was healthy, happy, and financially secure, his twin brother Donald Dixon, brother Dale Dixon, and sister Lynn Zargan. He was preceded in death by parents Nathaniel and Gladys Dixon.
His Senior Yearbook Quote: “I’m not arguing with you, I’m telling you” was as true in most recent days as it was 60 years ago. His classmate’s description of “intelligence accented by energy and good-naturedness” rang true throughout his life as well. It brought him great, great joy to participate in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives, cheer them on, and generously support their endeavors.
He had a profound impact on all who encountered him and will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of his amazing life will be held on Saturday, January 17th from 4:00-6:00 at Chandlers Cafe in Sylvania, OH.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of his memory to Forte Music School Toledo by calling 419-471-2100 or mailing/donating in person to: Forté Music School, 208 W. Sylvania Ave. Toledo OH 43613.