Doctor Robert A. Voege (8/1/1926 to 9/19/2011) a long time team mate and beloved friend passed away on September 19, 2011.
President Jack Karbens Reminiscences:
I thought of Bob Voege as I competed today. I recalled my last time to visit and compete with him at the USATF Nationals in Maine. As I tightened up the cord on my running shorts for my first event of the pentathlon, the long jump. I pulled too tight and broke the cord. I had to use the pins for my competition number to hold up my shorts for the long jump and javelin competition, Very awkward! There came Bob Voege to the rescue to lend me his spare shorts. Without his help, I would not have won first place that day.
I will think of Bob when I go to the Nationals next year.
Dr. Robert A. Voege
Robert "Coach Bob" Voege died early Monday morning September 19, 2011, surrounded by his family. Coach Bob loved God, his country and all things chocolate! He is survived by his wife of 60 years Frances Romero Voege; daughters Kathi Harvey (husband Don), Gayle Buckman (husband Rick), Debra Voege, Heather Voege and son Rob Voege (wife Patti).
Those lucky enough to have called him "Grandpa Funnyface" include Courtenay and Christopher Smith, Jason Harvey, Jennifer Buckman Brown, Ricky, Samantha and Murphy Buckman, Jon Voege, Robbie, Kai, and Lindsay Voege, Jose, Andrea and Ali Voege, and Jessie Voege DeVaney along with spouses and partners.
Coach Bob enjoyed the privilege of time spent with 8 great grandchildren; Mason, Cassie, Dalton (Dooley), Supreme, Zoe, Riley, Reagan and Isabella and was eagerly awaiting the births of 3 more.
A service to celebrate the life of this remarkable man will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 23, 2011 at Christ United Methodist Church, 1475 Center Road, Venice, Florida, followed by internment with full military honors at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, Florida. An opportunity to greet the family and share memories will begin at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers , donations may be made in Coach Bob's memory to the Special Olympics Sarasota County, PO Box 2112, Venice, Florida 34284 941-412-0402. Arrangements are by the Farley Funeral Home, Venice, Florida.
Coach Bob was a graduate of Jamaica High School in Queens, New York and Colgate University. He received his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. He served in the United States Navy during World War II on the USS Earl. He spent 28 years as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, tracking the inner workings of the Ku Klux Klan and La Cosa Nostra. Upon retirement, he continued in law enforcement with the CIA. He competed in the 1964 Olympic trials in Judo.
An avid Steelers Fan, Coach Bob raised his family in Brentwood (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, where his own and countless other children were inspired, coached and mentored in Football, Baseball, Softball, Swimming, Judo and Spelunking.
After moving to Hawaii, Bob became known as the “Kindergarten Cop”, teaching physical education in the public school system. Continuing to coach Masters swimmers at the Oahu Club, he participated himself in the Masters Competitions for Swimming and Track and Field where he garnered many a Gold Medal, holding National Records that stand today. In 1998, he won the Blue Cross Blue Shield Ageless Hero award for vitality. President George H.W. Bush presented him with the national award in Chicago.
Moving to Venice, Florida to be closer to family and friends, Bob picked up where he left off, coaching with the Sarasota Sharks, the Special Olympics of Sarasota County, and working as a Guardian Ad Litem. He was a frequent reader and sandbox playmate at the Venice YMCA preschool.
A remarkable man; an inspirational life ….well done, Coach Bob…well done.
Epilogue:
The services for my dad were beautiful and in the church but he had wanted a Military Burial and we have a relatively new National Cemetery right here in Sarasota. We drove the 20 miles from the church and it began to drizzle. The clouds formed a V (truthfully) you saw the whole row of cars snapping pictures. Then when we got there, 2 Navy Men were there to guide us in and the VFW was there to provide the 21 gun salute, Honor Guard and taps. A bag piper piped him in and out. As the service was five minutes away it POURED, I mean really poured as we crammed under a very small pavilion dripping wet. Dad wasn’t able to swim at the end as the Picc line they applied to deliver the heart medicine was not allowed to be submerged. We joked that this was dad wanting one last swim. His swimmers in attendance agreed. The 15 or so VFW stood faithfully out in the rain as their thin shirts showed only their black dickies and their post combat forms. My sister and I began to chuckle as we knew my dad would have thought this a hoot. The first shots were fired, followed by a HUGE thunder, the second round, again another thunder and finally the last round with a bigger boom. Coach Bob was once again competing. All you could hear was “Daddy” one of my siblings thought the same thing. The flag that had draped the coffin was soaking and had to be replaced for purposes of presentation only and as we stood soaking from head to toe the rain stopped.Over head flew a plane three times around in large circles that said ALOHA!
Yes, Mr. Voege, we will include the roll at the end of your throws just like they do in Hawaii.
Links
http://archives.starbulletin.com/98/04/28/sports/story2.html Star Bulletin
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080723/ARTICLE/807230495 Herald Tribune
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