The Bandits, sometimes known as the "Old Bastards", are a loose knit group of golf enthusiasts who, six days a week, drag themselves out of bed in order to knock a little white ball around the course at Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL. Ability has little to do with the actual play, most come out just to have a good time and to harass the other members of the fraternity. Handicaps range from near par players to, well....., you don't really want to know.
Players are broken up into foursomes and head out each day at 7:30 AM sharp. Play usually finishes up around 10:30 AM at which time it's time to pay the piper. Sad but true - this is no bunch of pansies, they play for big stakes. A nickle a mark, 10 cents for best front and back nine and a whopping 25 cents for best total - why, a bad day can cost you a buck or so!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Eulogy for Bob Longmore
Eulogy given by Pat's Daughter in Jupiter Florida at the Memorial Service there.
Eulogy for Bob Longmore
I first met Bob in 1988. Mom was cavorting around the States setting up marketing mobs, selling whatever would move in the locale she found herself in. It was kind of exciting to have such an adventurous mom. Unfortunately, none of her kids seemed to develop this gypsy trait of hers.
Somehow, she and Stacey ended up in Denver Colorado, where they both found themselves husbands. This is where Bob comes into our picture. Who was this unknown man who caught our mothers eye and her heart? I’ll never forget the first time I met him. Cowboy boots, big silver belt buckle, and even a cowboy hat that he sometimes wore. Now, coming from Toronto, this is a bit unusual. Add the foreign Colorado accent, touched with a bit of a Maine flavour, well, he was really rather exotic and outlandish to us. What was a nice English girl doing with a country dude? She even started wearing cowboy boots and went out line dancing with him.
Well, it only took one twinkle of his eye and we knew why she was so happy. I know I was immediately taken with his calm demeanor, and kind spirit. Of course, this was before we knew about that killer instinct unleashed when a deck of cards was in his hand - or any other game for that matter. Mom has mentioned his strong competitive nature, but his son Fred, provided more insight into this side of him. I am sure there are many of you here who can share stories around this side of his nature. Fred spoke of the endless tennis games he lost to his father and the injuries in said games that did not slow him down for a second. Then there were the card games, often accompanied by a slight wager here and there. I asked Fred if Bob ever lost a game to him even as a kid. Absolutely not, not ever. I don’t know much about Bob and his life before meeting Mom - I know it included raising 6 kids, the loss of his first wife, a career in the military and another career after that. But we are grateful for this earlier life that brought Bob into ours. I have one more story I can share with you.
Fred told us about how he and Bob were moving a dryer into the basement. Bob was on the bottom end and Fred at the top end. On about the second step, Bob lost his balance and fell all the way down. Fred looked down to see his dad lying on the floor. Bob told him to hold on to the dryer while he darted back up there. But unfortunately, Fred lost his grip and watched as the dryer end-over-ended itself until it broke it’s fall on top of Bob’s chest. Fred looked down in horror to see the dryer on top of his dad, with his four limbs splayed out underneath. He quickly rushed down the stairs to rescue him. Now they say one of the best measures of a person is how they well deal with adversity. Well, as Fred reached down to pull the dryer off of his father, Bob looked up at him and said, “Wimp”. Kind of gives you a sense of his character and his humour.
Unfortunately, we don’t have many stories about Bob within our own family because once Mom and Bob got together we hardly ever saw her again. It seems that the two of them enjoyed each other’s company so much they decided to retire and do all the things they always wanted to do. So instead of gallivanting all over the U.S. to work, mom settled down to a domestic life with Bob here in Florida. Mom got a house to decorate and Bob got a place to golf year round. How perfect is that!
But there is more. What dream life is complete without world travel? Here are some of the places Bob and Mom visited: England, Scandinavia, Europe (Germany), the Mediterranean (Italy, Greece), Turkey, Yala, Africa, Alaska, Hawaii, China, Hong Kong, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and Russia. Bob’s previous military career enabled the two of them to travel to far off places where they would hop on cruise ships to see the world.
So when they weren’t taking in the glories of the globe they settled into a nice routine at home. Golf everyday for Bob, Garage Sales on the weekend for Mom. She would bring home all these treasures that often needed a bit or a lot of a helping hand. These finds gave Bob a second hobby. He could fix anything. And from what I have witnessed, he happily approached these projects. Luckily for me, they happened to visit right after had I moved and Bob installed all of my shelves, mirrors and anything else that required a drill. I think he even figured out how to put my Ikea bed together without any directions (I had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor since no one else could figure it out). I can honestly tell you it felt so good to ask for help and not hear any grumbling.
I think Bob was some kind of magic man. I witnessed my mother change her lifetime pattern of being late, to being punctual - if not early. This so goes contrary to her life before Bob. And further, her feelings for him inspired her to be home in time to make dinner because she loved to take care of him. I’m not saying that Mom didn’t cook or do domestic stuff before they met, but somehow with Bob she seemed to now enjoy doing this things for him. I never saw her happier.
A good life is made up of simple things, done with heart, of challenges attempted with gusto and adventures willingly embraced. I wish they had met sooner and that they might have had more time together. But the love and the life they shared is a testament to the power and joy of human spirit entwined.
Together they created the stuff that dreams are made of. And who can ask more of a life than that? Bob lived his life well and with integrity. We all have memories of Bob in our hearts. I hope we can spend some time this afternoon sharing these memories so that our hearts can join in honoring the gift of his life and spirit.
–Michi Evans
Eulogy for Bob Longmore
I first met Bob in 1988. Mom was cavorting around the States setting up marketing mobs, selling whatever would move in the locale she found herself in. It was kind of exciting to have such an adventurous mom. Unfortunately, none of her kids seemed to develop this gypsy trait of hers.
Somehow, she and Stacey ended up in Denver Colorado, where they both found themselves husbands. This is where Bob comes into our picture. Who was this unknown man who caught our mothers eye and her heart? I’ll never forget the first time I met him. Cowboy boots, big silver belt buckle, and even a cowboy hat that he sometimes wore. Now, coming from Toronto, this is a bit unusual. Add the foreign Colorado accent, touched with a bit of a Maine flavour, well, he was really rather exotic and outlandish to us. What was a nice English girl doing with a country dude? She even started wearing cowboy boots and went out line dancing with him.
Well, it only took one twinkle of his eye and we knew why she was so happy. I know I was immediately taken with his calm demeanor, and kind spirit. Of course, this was before we knew about that killer instinct unleashed when a deck of cards was in his hand - or any other game for that matter. Mom has mentioned his strong competitive nature, but his son Fred, provided more insight into this side of him. I am sure there are many of you here who can share stories around this side of his nature. Fred spoke of the endless tennis games he lost to his father and the injuries in said games that did not slow him down for a second. Then there were the card games, often accompanied by a slight wager here and there. I asked Fred if Bob ever lost a game to him even as a kid. Absolutely not, not ever. I don’t know much about Bob and his life before meeting Mom - I know it included raising 6 kids, the loss of his first wife, a career in the military and another career after that. But we are grateful for this earlier life that brought Bob into ours. I have one more story I can share with you.
Fred told us about how he and Bob were moving a dryer into the basement. Bob was on the bottom end and Fred at the top end. On about the second step, Bob lost his balance and fell all the way down. Fred looked down to see his dad lying on the floor. Bob told him to hold on to the dryer while he darted back up there. But unfortunately, Fred lost his grip and watched as the dryer end-over-ended itself until it broke it’s fall on top of Bob’s chest. Fred looked down in horror to see the dryer on top of his dad, with his four limbs splayed out underneath. He quickly rushed down the stairs to rescue him. Now they say one of the best measures of a person is how they well deal with adversity. Well, as Fred reached down to pull the dryer off of his father, Bob looked up at him and said, “Wimp”. Kind of gives you a sense of his character and his humour.
Unfortunately, we don’t have many stories about Bob within our own family because once Mom and Bob got together we hardly ever saw her again. It seems that the two of them enjoyed each other’s company so much they decided to retire and do all the things they always wanted to do. So instead of gallivanting all over the U.S. to work, mom settled down to a domestic life with Bob here in Florida. Mom got a house to decorate and Bob got a place to golf year round. How perfect is that!
But there is more. What dream life is complete without world travel? Here are some of the places Bob and Mom visited: England, Scandinavia, Europe (Germany), the Mediterranean (Italy, Greece), Turkey, Yala, Africa, Alaska, Hawaii, China, Hong Kong, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and Russia. Bob’s previous military career enabled the two of them to travel to far off places where they would hop on cruise ships to see the world.
So when they weren’t taking in the glories of the globe they settled into a nice routine at home. Golf everyday for Bob, Garage Sales on the weekend for Mom. She would bring home all these treasures that often needed a bit or a lot of a helping hand. These finds gave Bob a second hobby. He could fix anything. And from what I have witnessed, he happily approached these projects. Luckily for me, they happened to visit right after had I moved and Bob installed all of my shelves, mirrors and anything else that required a drill. I think he even figured out how to put my Ikea bed together without any directions (I had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor since no one else could figure it out). I can honestly tell you it felt so good to ask for help and not hear any grumbling.
I think Bob was some kind of magic man. I witnessed my mother change her lifetime pattern of being late, to being punctual - if not early. This so goes contrary to her life before Bob. And further, her feelings for him inspired her to be home in time to make dinner because she loved to take care of him. I’m not saying that Mom didn’t cook or do domestic stuff before they met, but somehow with Bob she seemed to now enjoy doing this things for him. I never saw her happier.
A good life is made up of simple things, done with heart, of challenges attempted with gusto and adventures willingly embraced. I wish they had met sooner and that they might have had more time together. But the love and the life they shared is a testament to the power and joy of human spirit entwined.
Together they created the stuff that dreams are made of. And who can ask more of a life than that? Bob lived his life well and with integrity. We all have memories of Bob in our hearts. I hope we can spend some time this afternoon sharing these memories so that our hearts can join in honoring the gift of his life and spirit.
–Michi Evans
Tribute to Bob Longmore from Dudley Kernik
Bob Longmore
7/28/1933-2/3/2003
From:
Dudley Kernik
We will all miss Cock-a-Roach, Bob.
The way you "yanks" pronounced his name, I always thought it was LAWNMOWER!! I, for one, will never forget, when I returned from the UK after my "op", the fabulous way
he & Jeff helped my family to lay on a surprise Welcome Back 'do' at The Dunes, 3 years ago. He had printed up posters.... "Dudley Kernick...WANTED, Alive and Well"
complete with photographs & yellow ribbons. He kept everyone informed, and always had the playing cards ready every morning. He was an "expert" advisor on Bridge- Cars- Computers- and always found time to assist anyone who cared to seek his help. He was a symbol of everything that makes the B------d Bandits so unique.
I wish I had as many dollars as times Bob would open up a conversation with...
"Well, that wife of mine............. etc etc.,"
Dudley K.
2-5-03
Tribute to Bob Longmore from Dick S.
Bob Longmore
7/28/1933-2/3/2003
From: Fred Longmore
Fred asked me (Dick S.) to add a few items of rememberance about Bob. The above photo and following description are from 1993....(handsome gentlemen,...one outa three ain't bad :) !!! ) Fred and his Dad, Bob Longmore, on a trip he earned from Toshiba to the Super Bowl in California 1993. That's the year D'Boys (Dallas Cowboys) pounded up on the Buffalo Bills.
Fred is being presented with an autographed football by Jim Harbaugh from the Super Bowl he and his father attended. Though Jim's been on many great clubs like Chicago, Baltimore and San Diego he's not quite made it to a super bowl yet....he wasn't playing this year, but was brought in as the celebrity speaker at the Toshiba awards ceremony.
Jim looks about the same now as then, unlike Fred or his Dad for that matter. (Gotcha Dad!)
Bob used to e-mail stories to Fred about us "Bandits" - this is one of Fred's favorites:
WEDNESDAY AUG 2000. ONLY 8 BANDITS SHOW UP FOR GOLF AT JUPITER DUNES, SO WE PLAY A 2 TEAM 4 BALL SCRAMBLE. CAPTAINS ARE MERRIL STENBOM AND BOB LONGMORE. THIS INCIDENT WAS RELATED TO US AFTER THE MATCH.
ON THE 13TH TEE, BARRY MCGEE HITS HIS TEE SHOT AND BREAKS OFF HIS LEFT FOOT AT THE ANKLE . MERRIL HAS A CART AND DRIVES BARRY UP TO THE CHOSEN BALL. BARRY TAKES HIS SHOTS TO FINISH THE HOLE. BARRY THEN USED THE CART TO RETURN TO THE CLUB HOUSE PARKING LOT AND GET HIS SPARE PROSTHETIC LEG. HE HAD LOST THE LEG IN NAM WHEN HIS HELICOPTER WAS SHOT DOWN. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE 14TH HOLE AND THE TEAM FINISHED THE MATCH.
WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HEARD WHAT HAPPENED THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT BARRY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, CRIED FOUL. YOU CAN'T REPLACE A BROKEN LEG IN THE MIDDLE OF A MATCH. THE PROTEST FELL ON DEAF EARS AND WE PAID THE SWINE THEIR MONEY. THIS IS JUST A SMALL EXAMPLE OF HOW COMPETITIVE THE BANDITS ARE WHEN THEY PLAY THE GAME.
BOB
- I remember this well as I was walking with Barry that day. Barry turned to me and said , matter of factly, "I just broke my leg"....I was shocked at the moment because I was new to the Bandits at the time and didn't really realize that Barry had a prosthetic leg!!..:) ...couldn't figure out how a guy could break a leg just walking down the fairway!!
A Tribute to my Dad, Bob Longmore
Bob Longmore
7/28/1933-2/3/2003
Bob was best known as “the Head Cock-a-roach”, a term of endearment bestowed by the “Bandits". He was the glue that kept the group of golfers organized and happy. Bob coordinated the team assignments, kept the score board up to date and often organized other activities for the “Bandits”.
When I first came to Jupiter Dunes to try golf two + years ago, it was Bob who took me in and made me feel as though I was instantly a part of the group. He introduced me to all the other golfers, explained how the “Bandits” worked and made sure I had a good time. On a daily basis, he was the “life of the party” with his infectious laugh - a laugh which always put other golfers in a good mood. Bob’s medical difficulties slowed him down quite a bit in the past year. As his foursome would leave a green and head to the next tee, there was the inevitable “you know, it’s funny”….. this was Bob’s way to slow down his playing partners so he could tell a story about his recent cruise, about the family, about some golf story he saw on TV, whatever.
The other “slow-down” was his quote “that wife of mine”….this was always a story about what Pat had bought at her most recent Saturday morning garage sale hunt. Pat found many interesting items in her travels but probably none that Bob liked more than his Greg Norman “Shark” black straw golf hat. Bob looked very debonair in his fancy chapeau, a garage sale find that Pat bought for $2, I believe. Bob liked this hat so much, he wore it daily for almost a year. The summer sun took its toll and bleached the hat out almost gray. I jokingly told Bob he ought to spray paint his hat – well, Bob didn’t take that as a joke and showed up the next day with his fancy hat, now dark black again, and returned to it’s previous splendor. Bob was an expert at making the most with what he had - we won’t even discuss his ongoing golf cart repairs – I think Bob had the same cart (with a multitude of cannibalized parts) for the past 20 years :)
Bob was more than just a friend,
has was THE Bandit.
We’ll all miss him and his "Texas Wedge" -
Wherever he is, I'm sure....
"he's putting" :)
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