Robert J. Mientus, a human resources executive with UPMC Physician Services Division, died Monday of a heart attack. He was 57.

Mr. Mientus, of Ross, was in his third year at UPMC, where he handled hiring, firing, discipline, benefits and other personnel aspects for the 3,800 staff members in the network.

"He was probably the most well-respected person we had in our division," said Mr. Mientus' boss, Anna Roman, vice president of administrative services and physician relations.

A staff excellence award to be given out next week has been renamed in Mr. Mientus' honor.

Mr. Mientus, a diehard runner who was up at 5:30 a.m. rain or shine, had a family history of heart problems, said his wife of 28 years, Jean Mientus.

Mr. Mientus graduated from Duquesne University in 1972 and earned a master's degree there in 1977. He went into human resources and worked at Children's Hospital and Genco, a Blawnox-based logistics company, before joining UPMC.

"He was an extremely professional, hard-working man, loved his children to no end," Mrs. Mientus said.

Dr. Roman called Mr. Mientus judicious, kind and quiet with a good sense of humor, patience and the desire to mentor employees. He had a staff of 18 and maintained an open-door policy.

"I lost one of my closest confidantes," Dr. Roman said.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Mientus is survived by sons Andrew, 21, of Ann Arbor, Mich. and Joseph, 24, of Ross.

Visitation is today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Neely Funeral Home, Shaler. A mass will be celebrated tomorrow at 1 p.m. at St. Athanasius Church, West View.

-- Jonathan D. Silver