Robert le Blount Gamble

- Robert le Blount Gamble, 94,

(March 26, 1930, - April 1, 2024) passed peacefully at the Seabrook Retirement Village in Tinton Falls,

NJ. “Bob” was born in a blizzard in Evanston,

Illinois, the first child of Slade le Blount Gamble, an engineer, and Anna Marie Van Duzer Gamble, a violinist and school teacher. In his memoirs, Bob described being a young child of many antics and adventures. He recollected working hard as he grew, proudly earning the money for his first two wheeled bicycle, and later earning the money with his siblings for a hearing aid for his Grandmother Gamble.

After a few moves in his early childhood, Bob grew up in Morgan Park, IL, where he attended Morgan Park Military Academy for high school, and was Salutatorian of his class. He kept grade reports all the way back to elementary school, clearly proud and valuing of his academic accomplishments. At Morgan Park, Bob joined the debate team to help him get over his shyness and improve his self respect. He had taken piano lessons from a Mrs. Davidson, whom he credited with teaching him good discipline, an appreciation for classical music, and a love for the Oz books, which he read while waiting for his lessons. Also at Morgan Park, Bob befriended his favorite math teacher, Cap Gray, who inspired him to attend Northwestern University. Bob was proud of summers spent caddying, the beginning of his life long love of golfing.

At Northwestern, Bob followed his father’s advice to major in engineering, for good job opportunities. He took heavy course loads and did well academically, leading to a full tuition scholarship, and had co-op engineering experiences during the summers and winter terms. Also at Northwestern, Bob met Vel (Mary Velesca Conrad), an organ student, whom he later married and with whom he had a big family.

After college, Bob attended Harvard Business School where he earned an MBA, while Vel attended the Boston University School of Music. Bob loved the “B” School and dating Vel, and was married at the Boston University Chapel on June 9, 1954. They lived for a time in the home of Mrs. Anna Holland, the widow of the man for whom the Holland Tunnel was named.

After graduating from Harvard Business School, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Marine Officer Corps, and was based in Quantico, Virginia. His Marine Corp service took him to Camp Pendleton, CA, and later to Wilmington, North Carolina, and Beirut, Lebanon. Bob was quite proud of a beautiful hard maple cabinet he designed and built for a hi-fi system while at Camp Pendleton. His first son, “Jimmy,” was born in Quantico, VA. When Bob’s active duty with the Marine Corp ended in 1958, he took a job with Wheelock Signals in Long Branch, NJ, and the family moved to Horseneck Point, in Oceanport, NJ. They joined the First United Methodist Church in Red Bank, where Vel became associate organist, and Bob sang in the choir. The “twins,” Susan and Noel, were born early in 1960, and Bob was enamored with his young family.

Looking for professional advancement, Bob took a job as Assistant National Accounts Sales Manager for the Automotive Division of Blackhawk Manufacturing Company, and the family relocated to Hales Corners, WI, just outside of Milwaukee. Bob enjoyed international travel in his roles with Black Hawk, where he gained considerable business experience. He

TINTON FALLS

was in Monterey, Mexico, when President Kennedy was assassinated. Bob described the years in Wisconsin, where Barbara and Mary were both born, as “a good time of our life.”

In a next opportunity for professional advancement, Bob took a job as Marketing Director for Standard Thomson’s Automotive Division in Waltham, MA; and the family relocated to Sherborne, MA, shortly before Lloyd’s birth in 1967. Though it was an exciting time for Bob professionally, increased travel demands with a big family at home proved to be too much, he looked for a new opportunity, and accepted an offer from IT&T in New York; and the family returned to familiar surrounds in New Jersey. Over those early years in NJ, while he advanced professionally, his marriage was challenged, and ultimately ended in divorce.

In Bob’s next chapter, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Thomas in 1981, to whom he was married until her passing in 2012. They enjoyed traveling together, and many years singing in the Monmouth Civic Chorus. As Betty approached the end of her life, she navigated their move to the Seabrook Retirement Community, in Tinton Falls, NJ, a wonderful gift to Bob, as he spent many happy years there, active in the Seabrook Community. He served as President of the Resident Advisory Council, newsletter editor and writer/ photographer for the “Wood Chips” column in the Community Newsletter, “Shore Lines,” sang in the Seabrook Singers, sang and danced and built sets for musicals with the Seabrook Chorale, played lots of golf, and much more. After Betty’s passing, Bob partnered with Mae Deas, another Seabrook resident, with whom he enjoyed such a loving connection. Mae’s gracious presence has been a blessing to Bob and to all of his family.

A 90th birthday gala was planned for Bob in March of 2020, but was canceled last minute with the Covid 19 pandemic shut down. Soon after, in May 2020, Bob had a fall resulting in a serious traumatic brain injury, cutting short his actively engaged life at Seabrook. His children joined together on zoom to navigate care for him from near and far, their connection to each other a silver lining in this tragic turn for Bob. They wish to express their appreciation to his caregivers: Nana Ntowi, Kwame Bawuah, and Jude Okorie.

Bob is predeceased by his parents, Slade le Blount Gamble and Anna Marie Van Duzer Gamble; his brothers, Thomas Ellsworth Gamble (Donna) and Grigsby Van Duzer Gamble (Gloria); and his beloved wife, Elizabeth Thomas Gamble. Bob is survived by his first wife, Velesca Conrad Gamble; his sister, Jacqueline Gamble Kropke Rieck; his sister-in-law, Trudi Thomas Kasianchuck (Paul); his children: James Slade Gamble (Jill), Susan Marie Gamble Dingsor (Arthur Strock), Noel Thomas Gamble (Toni), Barbara Lucille Gamble, Mary Velesca Gamble (Joe Graziano), and Lloyd Robert Gamble (Binta Beard); and his grandchildren: Kenneth James Dingsor (Christine Jorge), Fiona Lynn Chamness, James Conrad Chamness, Catherine Anne Gamble, Daria Chamness, Anaya Ruth Gamble, and Langston River Gamble; and his many nieces and nephews.

Service information: A Celebration of Life will take place for Bob on Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 11am to 1pm, at the Atrium at Seabrook, 3000 Essex Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753, luncheon included. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations: The Seabrook Resident Care Fund, 3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753; The United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701; and Monmouth Civid Chorus, PO Box 16, Red Bank, NJ 07701.