Flick, Robert S.
Robert S. Flick, 97, baptized in the hope of Christ’s resurrection on Friday, May 16, 2025. Beloved husband of Mary Flick (nee Meehan). Loving father of Mary Flick, Kathy (Steve) Sainz, Susan (Jeff) Sainz and Joe Flick. Grandpa to Matthew Sainz, Katie (Chris) Rosemann, Jack Sainz and Mira Sainz. Dear uncle brother-in-law and friend of many. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph J. and Emily R. (nee Henke) Flick, siblings Sr. M. Johnette, SSND, John (Ginny) Flick, Mark (Melba) Flick, Martha Flick, and Tom (LuAnn) Flick.
Bob attended St. Louis University High School (Class of 1946) and earned a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from St. Louis University in 1952, before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He served at the rank of corporal in the Signal Corps Center, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He returned to St. Louis and to St. Louis University, where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Civil Engineering in 1956. After time at McDonnell Aircraft Corp. as a structural engineer, and the St. Louis County Health Department as a public health engineer, he found his home at the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, beginning as treatment plant superintendent in 1964, then industrial waste engineer. During that time, he earned a master’s degree in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering at Washington University in 1965. This helped him advance at MSD to Director of Wastewater.
In 1978, Bob was named Executive Director of MSD, serving as the district’s chief executive officer with responsibilities for wastewater collection and treatment and storm water control of an area of approximately 500 square miles with a St. Louis population of over 2 million. He left MSD in 1982, and after a brief stint as a sales engineer for C.B. Smith Company, he was named Executive Director of the Sanitary District of Decatur, Illinois, a post he held from 1983-89. But his home was in St. Louis. He returned to MSD in 1989 as assistant director of wastewater, where he became a favorite on the MSD Speakers’ Bureau, entertaining and educating children about water and wastewater’s trip through the sewer district’s system. In 1990, he became a senior wastewater engineer/consultant with Ross and Baruzzini, a design and consulting firm in St. Louis.
In addition to his administrative work, Bob also lectured on environmentally related subjects at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, St. Louis, University, Lewis and Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. A Registered Professional Engineer in Missouri, he was also involved in numerous professional organizations, serving as president of the Missouri Water Environment Association in 1969. One of his greatest professional honors was the Golden Fleece Award, given in 2003 by the Missouri Water Environmental Association for his dedicated and sustained service to the Missouri Water Environment Association and the wastewater profession. “Your leadership, mentoring and contributions are legendary,” the award reads.
Bob’s greatest loves were his family and his Catholic faith. He coached his daughters’ softball teams and helped with homework and science projects. He volunteered at parish fundraisers and lectored and ushered at his parishes, Sacred Heart and St. Angela Merici in Florissant and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in South County.
Bob was, in the tradition of his Jesuit teachers and mentors, a man for others. He left his mark for good on family and friends, colleagues and parishioners. He will long be remembered for his gracious generosity, his sincere humility, his common sense and his self-deprecating good humor.
Services: Bob’s life will be celebrated on Thursday, May 22 at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church, 4900 Ringer Road. A 10 a.m. visitation will be followed by an 11 a.m. Mass. Burial in St. Denis Cemetery, Shipman, Illinois.