Robert Holzkamp, a former Sentinel sales director, has dies 84.
A career that started in 1956 selling classified advertising at the Chicago Tribune led Robert Bruce Holzkamp to oversee sales at the Orlando Sentinel, manage the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and eventually become vice president of sales and marketing for Tribune Company.
Holzkamp died Monday from Alzheimer’s complications at his home in Fernandina Beach. He was 84.
The native of White Plains, N.Y., made his mark in Florida during a six-year period that started in 1977 when he served as vice president and director of sales for the Orlando newspaper before moving on to become executive vice president and general manager of the paper in Fort Lauderdale.
His legacy included creating greater opportunities for women, who had just started working in classified phone sales in the 1960s, his daughter said. Under his leadership, they came to dominate the sales staffs. In addition, he is credited with helping transition the New York Daily News during a massive restructuring in the early 1990s and involving its sale to the British financier and publisher, Robert Maxwell.
“My father met the extraordinary challenges presented to him with courage and perseverance, while sticking to the fundamental values of communicating directly and honestly with people to see the job through,” said his daughter, Debbie Holzkamp.
His training began before his career in newspapers. Holzkamp served as an officer of the U.S. Army officer from 1954 to 1956 and was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va., and Fort Leonard, Mo., as a commander in the Engineer Officer Candidate School. Called back to service in 1961 because of the Berlin Crisis, he was stationed for six months at Fort Polk in Lake Charles, La. And in 1968 he was honorably discharged from a position as captain of the U.S. Army Reserves, according to family members.
Outside work, he served as past president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, a longtime board member of Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, and an active volunteer for the interdenominational family and community ministry, Barnabas. He also was a longtime lay leader for the Florida South East and North East Methodist districts, traveling to 70 congregations.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Holzkamp; his former wife, Margie Holzkamp; two daughters, Susan Wiberg and Debbie Holzkamp; a stepdaughter, Melissa Muller; two stepsons, Muller Davis Jr., and Joeff Davis; and nine grandchildren.
The family suggests donations to Barnabas, 1303 Jasmine St. Suite 101, Fernandina Beach, Fla., 32034, or Metropolitan Family Services (United Charities), 1 North Dearborn, Suite 1000, Chicago, Ill.
“My father met the extraordinary challenges presented to him with courage and perseverance ... ” Debbie Holzkamp, daughter of former Tribune executive Robert Holzkamp