Read Robert "Ty" Tyler Ely's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Robert "Ty" Tyler Ely

Arlington, VA, USA

February 11, 1954 - September 30, 2020

Feb 11, 1954 - Sep 30, 2020

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Robert Tyler (“Ty”) Ely died unexpectedly at home on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. He was 66.

Ty was born on February 11, 1954, in Springfield, Missouri, the second child of Robert (“Bob”) and Donna Ely. Older sister Jane was two years his senior, and little sister Susie came along six years later. His role as the middle brother of two sisters was a foreshadowing, and would serve him well in the future as a beloved father to four daughters.

As a child growing up in McAlester, Oklahoma, Ty exhibited many of the qualities he would carry into adulthood: he was invariably kind, he was a steadfast friend, he loved his dogs, and he was handy. The projects of Ty’s youth are a kind of family lore, as he rebuilt from scratch a mail truck that the neighborhood kids then took turns driving (and tipping over), and constructed a three-story treehouse complete with stairs. He was devoted to the many dogs Bob bred, and once, when a female dog delivered her babies prematurely while Bob was out of town, a ten year-old Ty gently buried the pups that didn’t make it.

In 1972, Ty enrolled at Central State University, later transferring to Oklahoma State University to study electrical engineering. At OSU, Ty was accepted into the engineering honor societies Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi. Many of Ty’s other college experiences aren’t fit for print, but he did have a whole lot of fun, especially with his lifelong friend, Jamie Mize. After graduating, Ty began work at Houston Lighting and Power in Houston, Texas. It was there that this small-town Okie met the love of his life, Sue Simpson, a Pittsburgh, PA, native and Vanderbilt nursing student. A chance encounter at the TGI Fridays bar led to a whirlwind long-distance romance when Sue returned to Vanderbilt for her senior year. Engaged by Christmas and married within the year, it didn’t seem likely that this union of two young kids from very different parts of the country would make it, but even after 42 years of marriage, Sue and Ty remained best friends.

In 1979, Sue and Ty moved to Mt. Lebanon, PA, and, by 1988, had welcomed four daughters: Christy, Laura, Chelsea, and Alice. Ty began his new phase of life as dad to “the Ely girls.” Each daughter would grow accustomed to hearing the refrain “Your poor dad!” upon explaining that she had three sisters, but it never seemed to phase Ty. He became well-known around “Lebo” when his girls were young as the President of the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Association, and, later, as the Mt. Lebanon Commissioner (the latter of which may have been a ploy to prevent parties at his house—the Ely girls, too, liked to have some fun!).

After Alice was off to college, at last alone and sharing a love of historical homes, Sue and Ty bought a run-down Victorian on Howe Street in the Shadyside neighborhood of downtown Pittsburgh. Only they could see the beauty in its dilapidated exterior, and there were a few worried phone calls among the daughters, speculating about midlife crises. Ty did much of the renovation work himself, prompting alarm from the neighborhood when he constructed three-story scaffolding and donned protective gear to remove the paint from the home’s stone exterior. This crazy job earned him a “Moxie” award from This Old House magazine and a feature in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

When Ty retired as a partner in HEG Company, his software development business, and the grandchildren began to multiply, he and Sue found themselves traveling frequently to see their daughters in Virginia, New York, and California. They finally decided to settle in Arlington, VA, living around the corner from Laura’s family, and spent many weekends in Manasquan, NJ, where Christy’s family has a beach house. Never liking to be bored, Ty became a local handyman in both places, doing various odd jobs for families around the neighborhoods. He relished fixing things around the homes of clients he considered like his kids.

Ty treasured helping his girls with each of their home purchases—from Virginia to the Jersey Shore to the Hamptons to Lake Tahoe. He scouted properties, finished basements, painted shutters, upgraded bathrooms, and was forced to hang way more pictures and wallpaper than he ever would have liked.

In his free time, “Papa,” as he came to be known, could usually be found with one of his eight grandchildren. Like with his daughters, he found ways to make each feel special, recognizing their unique gifts and distinct personalities. Papa was a mainstay at school pick-up (usually followed by ice cream), indulged his grandkids with many long walks (regularly returning with drugstore toy cars), and often asked to FaceTime with his littlest grandchild, just to see her smile.

Ty is survived by the many friends and family who loved him dearly: his wife, Sue; his daughters, Christy Ely Tiboris, Laura Seals, Chelsea Batra, and Alice Ely; his sons-in-law, Peter Tiboris, George Seals, and Taresh Batra; his eight grandchildren, Dessa, Ernie, and Susana Tiboris; George, Tyler, Mae, and Walt Seals; and Anya Batra; his sisters, Jane Johnston (Tom), and Susie Hatter (Allen); and his beloved mother, Donna Ely. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert (“Bob”) Ely.

An outdoor celebration of life will be held at the Schenley Park Cafe in Pittsburgh, PA, at 1 PM ET on Saturday, October 17, 2020. All family and friends are warmly welcome, but, due to COVID restrictions, we’d ask that you RVSP by October 13 here: (https://forms.gle/Bj47ZoMkc1E…) Please wear a mask and dress casually (in any color!), as you would for any day in the park—it’s what Ty would have wanted.

For those who can’t attend in person, the celebration will be livestreamed online. Details will be posted in the "Events & RSVP" section of this site closer to the celebration.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Pittsburgh History Landmarks Foundation.

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