Robert Ptacek
Robert James “Bob” Ptacek, a former University of Michigan quarterback who played professionally with the Cleveland Browns and Saskatchewan Roughriders, has died. He was 89.
Ptacek died June 29 at his Dayton home, according to his obituary.
Born April 23, 1937, in Cleveland, Ptacek starred at Michigan from 1956-58 and was named the Wolverines’ most valuable player as a senior. He set a Big Ten record with 24 pass completions in a 1958 game against Ohio State and later earned MVP honors in the 1959 college all-star game.
At Michigan, he often played both sides of the ball.
The Cleveland Browns selected Ptacek in the eighth round of the 1959 NFL Draft. He appeared in 12 games for Cleveland before being traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a rare NFL-CFL transaction involving future NFL Hall of Famer Jim Marshall.
Ptacek played six seasons with Saskatchewan, earning CFL All-Star honors and later being inducted into the Roughriders’ Plaza of Honour in 2001. He remains the CFL record holder for most fumble returns in a playoff season, with three in 1963.
After football, Ptacek worked in transportation sales with Yellow Freight.
Family members said his greatest pride was his wife, Donna, and their family. The couple were together for 73 years and married for nearly 68 years.
He is survived by his wife; children Terri Horvath, Bob Ptacek, Gayle Adair and Lynn Ptacek; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, with another expected; and his brother, Jim Ptacek. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Nick.
A private family service is scheduled for July 17. A Celebration of Life will be held from 3 to 5:30 p.m. that day at Routsong Funeral Home in Dayton.