To Akron Police Captain Kris Beitzel, Rev. Dr. Bob Denton was her friend, mentor and inspiration—his death at 80 leaves a void and a lasting legacy.
“I used to say that I didn’t know what the world would be like without Bob in it. He was an inspiration to so many,” Beitzel said. “So much good came from the fact that he was Bob.”
Denton, who was a constant champion for victims’ rights both locally and nationwide, died Saturday at his home in Copley Township with his wife, Marian, at his side.
Denton had a stroke in 2017 and faced health complications in the years that followed.
Denton specialized in crisis intervention and responded to tragedies all over the U.S., including Hurricane Andrew, tornadoes in Arkansas and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
He also traveled to New York City to counsel mental health professionals who were helping the 9/11 terrorist attack victims.
Ten years later, Denton spoke with News 5 after a U.S. Navy SEAL unit killed Osama Bin Laden.
“There are some crimes that are so monstrous, so devastating that you let the government deal with them,” he said.