Arthur Robert (Bob) York, 68, died on Friday, November 19, 2010 while vacationing in Germany. He was an Asheville native and the son of Virginia York-Cochrane and the late Arthur A. York.
Mr. York was educated at Gibbons Hall School, Asheville Catholic High School and North Carolina State University. He was a graduate of the University of Chicago's Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, American Casualty Insurance School in Redding, PA and the Realtors' Institute at UNC-CH where he received the Glen M. Tucker award for outstanding graduate.
Mr. York began his career at Wachovia Bank and Trust where he was an assistant vice president and head of the office. He left in 1970 to found his own company as a second-generation real estate practitioner in Asheville. At the time of his death he was president of Raintree Realty and Construction, Inc. and vice president of York and Company.
During a long career in commercial and residential real estate brokerage, appraisal and construction Mr. York at various times served as a mediator, chairman of the Professional Standards Committee and president of the Asheville Board of Realtors; as a City Councilman; a director of the North Carolina Association of Realtors (NCAR); chairman of the Historic Resources Commission of Asheville and Buncombe County; a member of the City of Asheville Board of Adjustment; an examiner for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court; a charter member of the Property Management Division of NCAR; a member of the Economic Development Committee of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce; as treasurer of the Western North Carolina Homebuilders Association, and as an expert appraiser for the United States District Courts, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts. He also served on the board of the North Carolina Real Estate Education Foundation as secretary and a member of the Curriculum Committee, and as secretary of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. He was recognized by his peers as the Asheville Realtor of the Year and received the Distinguished Service Award from NCAR.
Mr. York worked on the merger of Mission and St. Joseph's Hospitals as vice president and board member of Horizons Health Corporation and volunteered on the Asheville Task Force for Law Enforcement.
At the time of his death he was a Sergeant with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Auxiliary and had volunteered for over 43 years in law enforcement. He was very active in all aspects of the reserve, and particularly enjoyed escorting the annual Toy Run in December.
In the community he also served as president of the Ira B. Jones School PTA, president of The Asheville High School Booster Club, as an advisor to Caring for Children and was a member of the Rhododendron Royal Brigade of Guards.
Mr. York's recreational passions were motorcycles and sailing and he made trans-Atlantic and Pacific crossings. He was a past Commodore of the Keowee Sail Club and was licensed as a Moorings Captain in the Caribbean. He was also a life member of the Harley Owners Group and belonged to the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. He rode with several motorcycle groups locally and in the southeast.
In addition to his mother, Robert York is survived by his wife, Rebecca R. York; daughter Laurel E. York of Asheville; son Joel T. York of San Francisco; sister Sandra Y. Smith and husband Bob of Weaverville; nephews Michael York Stevens and wife Tammy of Tucson, Tom Hitesman of Cincinnati, and Steven Hitesman and wife Pam and Jim Hitesman and wife Catherine, all of Asheville; niece Anna Kathryn Holbrook and husband Bruce of New Canaan, CT and several great nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his brother, Captain Don Joseph York who died in action in Viet Nam.
For those wishing to make memorial donations, the family suggests The Buncombe County Sheriff's Department, Reserve Division, 202 Haywood Street, Asheville, N.C. 28801 in which he was an active officer for 43 years. These donations will be used to help purchase equipment for reserve officers.
A gathering for Bob York's friends will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, December 19, at Homewood, 19 Zillicoa Street.