For many adults, a lasting passion is discovered entirely by accident. For Sun City Huntley resident Robert Supernaw, a wet Florida afternoon, the tight quarters of a motorhome, and a box of plastic bricks changed everything.
Long before he started assembling plastic wheels and gears, Supernaw had an opportunity that grown men envy and children only dream of.
“I accepted a job offer to run the Zamboni machine for a small rink in Wisconsin,” Supernaw said. “I instantly turned into a local celebrity, completely stealing the spotlight from the action on the ice. The kids would run right past their fathers playing the game and come directly to me because they loved the Zamboni.”
That passion for the ice eventually turned into a retirement gig. Supernaw stepped up as Ice Rink Manager, a part-time role he proudly held for nine years after retiring from his primary career.
During this time, his Zamboni expertise paved the way for the opportunity of a lifetime. After moving to Illinois to retire in Sun City Huntley, Supernaw was listening to the radio one day when he heard the Chicago Blackhawks advertising an opening for a Zamboni operator at the United Center. He decided to throw his hat in the ring.
When the NHL franchise asked for his resume, Supernaw’s unconventional approach worked perfectly.
“I told them I didn’t have one,” he laughed, “but I offered my phone number instead.” After a brief, ten-minute conversation, the franchise offered him the job the very next day, making him the envy of hockey fans everywhere.
“The commute from my home here was very long,” Supernaw explained, “but I tried it out for two months.”
Robert Supernaw and wife, Arlene, sort LEGO pieces for Supernaw’s next build. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
That innate love for unique vehicles and complex machinery makes perfect sense given Supernaw’s professional background. Before retiring to the ice rink, he worked as an experimental engineer, a profession devoted to testing, problem-solving, and understanding how complex mechanisms function.
When bad weather later left him looking for a way to pass the time inside his motorhome in Florida, that engineering brain naturally sought a challenge. He picked up a LEGO set that would ultimately spark a deep obsession.
“I built the Maersk train car container set,” he said. What started as a simple rainy-day activity quickly became a creative, technical outlet.
Supernaw now approaches his hobby with the same caution and methodology he once used in the engineering lab. To tackle highly complex, advanced sets, he developed a strict technique.
“I take photographs at every single stage of the build process,” Supernaw said. “These snapshots serve as a safety net. It came in handy while building a blue car where the shades of blue were so close that I made a mistake, but the photos helped me backtrack and locate exactly where the error occurred.”
He also saves every single LEGO box and instruction booklet.
While building is an engineered science for Supernaw, it is also a collaborative family activity. His wife, Arlene, actively participates by sorting and separating the plastic pieces before each build begins.
Arlene’s own tastes have also influenced the collection.
“I absolutely love all things Disney,” Arlene said, “and Bob happily accommodates my passion by bringing home and assembling magical pieces, including the LEGO Disney castle.”
The couple has even turned the hobby into a seasonal celebration. They carefully pack away their extensive collection of holiday projects, including an elaborate Christmas train, when the holidays end. Each year, they bring the boxes out of storage together and spread holiday cheer brick by brick.
While the Maersk train laid the foundation, the COVID-19 pandemic fanned the flames. Amid lockdowns, social distancing, and more time at home, Bob suddenly found himself applying his engineering skills to his passion for transportation at full throttle.
“I lean toward working on LEGO transportation kits,” Bob said. “I have built trains, trolley cars, motorcycles, ships, and high-end supercars.” His favorite challenges include McLaren supercars, replicated in detail through LEGO Technic sets with working suspensions, gearboxes, and piston engines.
The hobby rapidly took over their living space. “It was crazy. I started to run out of room,” Bob admitted. Today, one dedicated room in his home features specialized shelves that display his prized transportation sets year-round.
While physical space might be at a premium, his loved ones certainly aren’t complaining. Bob’s obsession has solved the ultimate holiday dilemma, making it incredibly easy for family and friends to pick out the perfect presents. Bob showed a few of his gifts. “I have got LEGO-themed shoes and socks, and, of course, LEGO gift cards.”
