Meadow Ridge resident continuing to make music in retirement

Throughout his life, 76-year-old Bob Runk has lived by two philosophies, find humor in every situation, and practice makes perfect.

Now retired, and living at the Meadow Ridge retirement community at 100 Redding Road in Redding, the musician and author continues to grow in his passions using the same philosophies that have defined his life, and make music in his retirement.

Runk has over two dozen tracks on Spotify and has written two successful books on the humorous side of golf. But around Meadow Ridge, he’s known fo r his enthusiasm for the game of croquet.

In 2018, when he and his late wife, JoAnn, moved to Meadow Ridge, they took up the sport and he’s been playing ever since. Runk has won a number of community tournaments.

Before Runk played croquet, he played golf. He took up the sport to play with his insurance clients during his long career insuring commercial aviation risks for companies such as UPS and Southwest Airlines.

His real passion, though, has always been music. It started with classical piano at the age of 9.

In the 1960s, while attending Wesleyan University in Middletown, he helped found the rock band Uranus, and the Five Moons, and played at colleges all over the Northeast region of the U.S.

Together, Runk, and his wife had two children. In 1998, at age of 42, she was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease, the same age that actor Michael J. Fox, was, when he was diagnosed.

Runk gathered professional musicians from New York, and hosted a fundraiser on her birthday in a tribute to her. The concert raised $50,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation non-profit organization.

A few years later, he was fortunate to connect with music producer Gary Katz, who was also a wellknown producer for many artists, most notably Steely Dan.

After their children were grown, and they retired from their day jobs, the pair began spending winters in Vero Beach, Fla. In 2018, JoAnn Runk’s Parkinson’s progressed to a point where she couldn’t make the trip any longer, so they moved into Meadow Ridge, where she could have additional support.

The den in Runk’s apartment at Meadow Ridge houses his music studio where he writes, plays and produces music. A few years ago, he learned how to use music software with the help of a local guy, and YouTube videos. He’s been producing music on his own ever since. His latest song is “Wide-Eyed Girl. The song is a tribute to his wife.

Besides continuing to make music, Runk enjoys exploring interests on his own, like trying to learn what Bitcoin is all about, participating in college classes that are offered by Meadow Ridge University at Meadow Ridge, and spending time with his two grandchildren.