Bob Flexner, RIP

[Steve Tiedman]

I found this article at Lost Art Press today (woodworking publisher) telling us Bob Flexner passed away in December.

Bob was the author of Understanding Wood Finishing, and was a long time contributor at Popular Woodworking. This piece was written by his former editor at the magazine.

He leaves giant footsteps...

Bob Flexner, 1940-2024 - Lost Art Press

I recently learned my finishing mentor – likely he was yours, too – and friend Bob Flexner died at home on December 29, 2024 (read his obituary here). Bob was

blog.lostartpress.com

If you don't have his book on your workbench, you need to. It's on its 3rd edition now, I believe. I've had it for almost 30 years. He gave me a good 15-20 minutes of his undivided time at AAW Portland back in the late 1990s.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

That's a big loss.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Here is Bob's obituary. Wow, he was a much more complex person than I imagined. I would have enjoyed being his next-door neighbor.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/norman-ok/bob-flexner-12147877

 

[john lucas]

I learned so much from him

 

[JeffSmith]

I read that in the post by Lost Art Press - sorry to hear - thanks for posting his obituary. I had no idea he had a life beyond finishing.

 

[Doug Freeman]

Bob will RIP. His books and articles on finishing are excellent and have been my major finishing resource for a couple of decades. Did not know he was from Oklahoma, where I spent my 1st 24 years. It’s unfortunate that he was a hated OU Sooner fan instead of the OSU Cowboys, but I suppose I can forgive him for that.

 

[Adrian Wilson]

I never met him, or had any contact, but I am saddened by this news. As a young cabinetmaker I learned a lot from The Book. When I became a cabinetmaking instructor in a college program, his work was baked in to my finishing courses, and The Book was on my list of required textbooks for students. It was, and is, excellent. Reading his obit, the love and regard in which he was held shines through. Hell of a life. Well done; RIP.