Valley businessman & philanthropist Bob Cene Jr. passes away at age 66

Robert R. Cene Jr, a well-known valley businessman and philanthropist, passed away on Tuesday according to his obituary from Higgins-Reardon funeral home.

After graduating from Austintown Fitch in 1975, Cene went to Kent State where he earned a masters degree in Architecture and Science. He used that experience to become a registered architect in 1987 and start his own architecture development firm, Renaissance 2000. 

With the firm, Cene would design and build Bob Cene Park in Struthers as a hub for valley baseball. The park just celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. 

Cene would join his brother and father at Astro Shapes Inc, an aluminum extrusion company, where he would work as Vice President until 2014.

After his time at Astro Shapes, he would continue his work in the aluminum business with On Us LLC, a beverage bottling company he founded with his son. That project was recognized with an Excellence in Design award from the Cleveland Restoration Society.

He is survived by his wife Joyce, three children, and two siblings.