Bob passed peacefully in his sleep Monday March 13, 2023 after an ongoing battle with Parkinson's Disease. Born April 8, 1943 in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Bob and Caye Breitenstein. The family resided in South America until they moved back to the U. S. settling in Farmington, New Mexico. Bob graduated from Farmington High School in 1961 and was recruited to play college football at The University of Tulsa, where he also pledged the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
In 1964 Bob was an All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and honorable mention All-American. Bob played on TU's 1964 Bluebonnet Bowl team after he helped pave the way for the nation's leading total offensive unit (461.8 yards) and the top scoring team (38.4 points per game). In 1965 he was drafted to play professionally in both football leagues; NFL by the Washington Redskins, and the AFL by the Denver Broncos. Bob chose Denver and began his professional football career, later playing for Chicago, Atlanta, and Minnesota. During his career with the Chicago Bears, Bob appears in the movie Brian's Song showing him in game footage and while carrying his friend Gale Sayers off the field. Bob graduated from TU in 1967 after returning during the offseason to finish college.
Following his professional football career, he settled in Tulsa. In 1991, Bob was inducted into the Farmington High School Hall of Fame and in 1994 into The University of Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame. Bob remained an active TU alumni and avid TU Athletics supporter for more than 60 years. Bob built a successful business as an agent with State Farm Insurance for 40 years until his retirement in 2017. Bob and wife Teddie are members of Kirk of The Hills Presbyterian Church.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 40 years Teddie, siblings; brother John Breitenstein, and sister Cathy Griffin, his children Rob Breitenstein and Laurel Breitenstein-Horn, step children Bret Smith and Jennifer Carter, five grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, as well as many close friends and former customers. Bob is preceded in death by his father, Robert Sala Breitenstein, and Mother Catherine Corr Breitenstein.
A memorial service will be held on what would have been Bob's 80th birthday Saturday, April 8 at 2pm in Tulsa at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel 3612 E. 91st St. Friends and family are invited to join us at 12:30 pm for a reception preceding the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Football Academic Enhancement Fund at The University of Tulsa in honor of Bob Breitenstein. Donations may be mailed to Tulsa Athletics, 800 South Tucker Dr., Tulsa, OK 74014, payable to Tulsa Athletics in honor of Bob Breitenstein, or call the Golden Hurricane Champions Fund office at 918-631-3347