Fullerton, CA

Robert "Bob" Traut was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1940 to John Amstutz and Margaret Comiskey Amstutz. Bob spent most of his childhood between Cleveland and the tiny community of Kelleys Island, located on Lake Erie, Ohio. His time on the island, he warmly referred to as his “Huckleberry Finn years,” with colorful stories of skipping school to harvest the island vineyards, where he also inadvertently caught his first buzz by snacking on fermented grapes, causing him to fall off his bike repeatedly. Of fond memories of working on the fishing boats, swimming in the rock quarries, playing on the middle school basketball team as a fourth grader, and once having to climb out of the first-floor classroom window to flee an irritated teacher. At age 10, Bob spent the summer at his older sister Jackie’s home in Southern California, where he launched his first business venture, a lawn mowing service. His warm manner and hard work met instant success that summer and he hired two neighborhood boys to cut the grass while he went door to door selling. In his middle school years, he spent summers and holidays working in his father’s gas station pumping gas and selling additional services. His youthful charm and inherent people skills fortified his entrepreneurial instinct that would remain woven into Bob’s life journey.

At 14, he headed west full-time to live in California, staying with Jackie and her husband, Don Traut and their then four children. He graduated from Santa Fe Springs High School in 1958 as ASB President and a three-sport varsity athlete in football, wrestling, and diving. After high school, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army. From 1958 to 1961, Bob served with distinction in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, NC. When asked why he chose the Airborne, he simply stated “I wanted to be the best.” During his time in the military, Bob attended correspondence classes at the University of North Carolina. Bob finished his time in the Airborne as a member of the elite aerial demonstration team, the “Golden Knights”.

Following military service, Bob returned to Southern California and founded American Screen Printing in 1962. In December 1964, he met the love of his life, Leah, introduced to him by her older sister Betty and her husband Dick, a former high school classmate to Bob. Bob later maintained he had seen Leah while she was working in a local retail shop but she never met his eye to give him the opportunity to ask her out. A whirlwind courtship ensued and they were married six months later in May 1965. Bob and Leah quickly blessed their home with four sons: Steve (1965), Mike (1966), Kevin (1970), and Jason (1976). After brief stays in Santa Fe Springs and La Palma, the family settled in Fullerton, where they established deep roots and have resided for 53 years.

A gifted salesman, entrepreneur, and charismatic leader, Bob sold American Screen Printing in 1975 to a national competitor White Graphics Systems where Bob earned the role of Western Territory Vice President. After White Graphics Systems was sold many years later to Avery Dennison, Bob recognized his fast action, instinctive decision-making style clashed with the slow moving, large corporate culture and so he opted to bet on himself and became an independent sales representative. In 1990, he joined Modagrafics as Western Vice President, where his energy, integrity, and confidence propelled him to the role of President. This promotion required Bob to relocate to Chicago, Illinois to execute the company’s financial turnaround.

Prior to his move to Chicago, Bob unsuccessfully attempted to buy a small Los Angeles based check printing company called Superior Press. Then in 1995, Superior Press approached liquidation and Bob seized the opportunity to invest with six other silent partners. Recognizing the opportunity as a viable “David versus Goliath” against major corporate competitors, Bob directed the company’s success from afar in Chicago, investing more of his time and money in its success and buying all six partners out. In 2002, as the company began to succeed, Bob returned to Southern California and came on board full time.

It was a life-long dream of Bob’s to run a family business alongside his four sons. After gaining valuable work experience and running businesses of their own, all four sons would join Bob at Superior Press. Today, each son holds avital leadership role on the executive team in the company’s daily operations. Working together not only built a thriving business, but it also brought the family closer together.

Bob’s greatest joy was being with his family. He was a master party thrower, he loved music and loved to dance. Often, he and Leah would be the last ones out on the dance floor. He loved family vacations at their summer condo in Canyon Lake where boating, water skiing, playing dock tag, or a round of tennis were the standard itinerary. He cherished the many family road trips and winter ski vacations to Tahoe, Mammoth, Colorado and Utah. At home he carved out time to coach the boys’ athletic teams and choreographed homespun “work parties” with his sons, usually a major construction project around the house or at the family rental properties.

After his sons married and started families of their own, Bob was blessed with a crop of grandchildren that he adored. At family gatherings and holidays, he loved being surrounded by his 15 grandchildren. Ranging in ages from 33 to 2years old, Bob’s nine grandsons, six granddaughters and one great-granddaughter were a source of infinite joy to him.

A man of deep personal conviction, Bob’s life was anchored by his Catholic faith. Early in his faith formation, he served as an altar boy at Kelleys Island, where he and the priest flew to other islands and lakeside parishes for Sunday mass services. In California, he was a long-time devoted parishioner originally at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Fullerton and then Saint Angela Merici Catholic Church in Brea. Bob served as a CCD teacher on weeknights and him and Leah enjoyed the festive company of a large group of friends from their local faith community. Bob was an avid supporter of his sons and grandsons Servite High School experience, serving as Parents Guild President in the 80’s, as a generous benefactor in his grandparent years, and provided tuition support for two current Servite students today. He was often the most senior participant in the Bunk Wurth St. Patrick’s Day Charity Golf Tournament participating in as many as 15 of the 20 annual tournaments including this year’s, held on March 17, 2026.

He personally hosted the St Angela Merici Knights of Columbus charity golf tournament fundraiser for many years.

His dedication to faith and family was closely intertwined with his support of various charities. Bob used his leadership skills serving as chairman of the YMCA of Orange County for many years. He gave generously of his time and resources to many other organizations, including Chapman University President’s Circle, Cal State Fullerton President’s Circle and Concert Under the Stars fundraising events, Young Americans Foundation and Ronald Regan Ranch Center, and Omaha Nebraska Boys Town.

Those who knew Bob will remember his boundless energy, his warm smile, casual confidence, his love for fun and storytelling, a competitive spirit, an unmistakable calming presence, and his genuine affection for people-strangers and friends alike. He was an avid reader, loved golf, the game of business, his many friendships, large family gatherings, and any opportunity to encourage someone to aim higher. He was proud of his faith, proud of his family, proud of his country, and proud of the winning team of wonderful people who built Superior Press, who he deeply loved.

As he commonly shared with family in his later years, “all his dreams came true”. Together, Bob and Leah worked hard on building a strong family as both parents and as grandparents to have everlasting relationships and build lifelong memories together. Bob started each morning and ended his evenings by reading the Bible. Bob always believed everything was possible with hard work and faith in Christ

God. Family. Country.