Robert Reeder

SARASOTA - Robert (Bob) John Reeder, 78, passed away March 6, 2024. He was born on March 4, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Rawls Samuel and Johanna Marie (Schranz) Reeder. As a dear friend declared, Bob was “a Winner...he absolutely hated to lose at anything.”

“An athlete from the cradle” (as described by a former early childhood friend), Bob excelled as an all-state tackle at Evanston High, where friends described him as “always friendly and kind.” In 1964, Bob received a scholarship to play football at Northwestern University. He earned his Masters Degree in Education, graduating to teach high school history and coach football for 10 years in Sycamore, Illinois. Following his tenure teaching, he joined Franklin Life to begin a long career in insurance sales. From Evanston, Illinois, he and his wife Betty began spending time in Sarasota in 2003 and moved here permanently in 2010.

Bob was a very active member of the Bent Tree Country Club. He loved golfing, cooking, socializing, and hosting parties. Outgoing and full of life, Bob never met a stranger.

He was a loving husband of 25 years to Betty (Stoehr) Reeder; a dedicated father to sons William Reeder (wife Tracy) and James Reeder (wife Cynthia); a welcoming stepfather to stepson Daniel Battle (wife Estrella Tadeo) and stepdaughter Emily Battle (wife Jennifer Tetler); a devoted brother to sisters Jeannine Wesley and Susan Karandreas (husband Jim); and an enthusiastic, larger-than-life “Pops” to grandchildren Jay, Cate, Sarah, Lyla, June, and step-grandchildren Taylor and Riley.