Robert Held Obituary

Held, Sr., Robert Thomas 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, May 26, 2006 in St. Augustine, FL. Bob, born in Chicago in 1918, graduated from Fenwick Catholic High School where he is a life time member of the Board of Directors as well as an inaugural member of the Alumni Hall of Fame. He went on to attend St. Benedicts College in Kansas. A successful developer, Bob founded Held Realty and Builders in Chicago in 1950, where he developed numerous residential communities. In 1966 Bob moved his family from River Forest, IL to Sea Ranch Lakes, FL, where he served two-terms as Mayor. Once in Ft. Lauderdale Bob founded Bodee Development Corporation, consisting of health care facilities, medical office buildings as well as commercial and residential developments. In 1985 Bob expanded Bodee Development to the St. Augustine, Florida area where the business is currently operating. Bob was very philanthropic. Among his many charitable interests was the Diabetes Research Institute where he endowed the first Chair for Research. Bob also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors as well as Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami. Bob was a devoted husband of 65 years and loving father of 8 children, 30 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan, devoted Catholic and member of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., at Kraeer Funeral Home in Ft Lauderdale, FL. Funeral Services will be held Friday, 11 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL with burial following at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: The Diabetes Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Miami 1450 NW 10th Ave. Miami, FL 33136. Mr. Held is survived by his wife, Louise K. Held of Sea Ranch Lakes, FL; 4 daughters, Judith L. (the late John C.) Stamm of River Forest, IL, Mary L. (William) Pace of Sea Ranch Lakes, FL, Maureen L. Martin of St. Augustine, FL, Kathryn L. (William) Sanchez of Wesley Chapel, FL, 4 sons, Robert T. (Mary Lou) Held, Jr. of Coral Springs, FL, Michael J. (Susan) Held of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Thomas S. Held of Pompano Beach, FL, Stephen M. (Lori) Held of Elkton, FL, 30 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Craig Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.