SOUTH BEND - Joseph R. Niemiec "Bob Victor", 84, passed away at 1:42 PM Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, IN. He was a Broadway playwright and producer and known to many as Bob Victor. He was born on May 30, 1929 in Los Angeles, CA to the late Joseph and Ann (Zezda) Niemiec.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Tracy (Ty) Barker of St. Louis, MO; his son, Jonathon Niemiec of South Bend; six grandchildren, Jonathan, Allyssa, Michael, Cathleen, Riley and Jonathan.

Bob served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and was an avid fan of Notre Dame football. Bob enjoyed racing cars and was a sprint car champion. He enjoyed driving his Ferrari. He loved New York and being on Broadway. He stared in several Broadway plays including "No time for Sergeants", "Handful of Fire" and "Westside Story" . He also produced several other plays which included "Good Time Charley", "Lennon" and "Paris". Bob was also in several television shows such as "Playhouse 90", "The Kraft", "The Investigator", "New York Confidential", "Naked City", "Willie", "Markham", "Johnny Midnight", "Johnny Stacatto", and "Dupont Show of the Month". Bob also played in several films; "Davy Crockett", "Atomic Blast", "North by Northwest", "That Kind of Woman", "The Best of Everything", and "Odds Against Tomorrow". Bob also stared in several commercials. He returned to South Bend to run the family owned business, including the Western State Bank.

Funeral services will be 12 noon Thursday, March 13, 2014, at Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN 46615. Friends may visit from 10:00 AM Thursday until time of services in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery, South Bend, IN.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Niemiec may be made to Mayo Clinic Cancer Research, Department of Development, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905-9813.

Published in the South Bend Tribune on March 12, 2014.

11/23/2023 DEC