Robert Lurie

Robert (Bob) Lurie, of Clearwater, FL was born on February 4, 1924 in Long Beach, NY. He passed away in peace in his home on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at the age of 90. He was predeceased by his father, Irving Lurie, mother, Lillian Lurie Osafsky, and brother Stanley Lurie.

Bob was indefatigable. A powerhouse and non-stop force of nature during his long life as a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, successful businessman and inspiration to all who knew him. He lived life to the fullest and adhered closely to the tenets of his motto: “Push Back The Horizons.”

And push them back he did. He pushed them back as a soldier in World War II, serving in combat as the youngest Lieutenant in the United States Army where he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His bravery also earned him the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal, 2 Bronze Stars for the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns, The American Theater Medal and The Victory Medal. He told of how, during a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines, a German hand grenade landed at his feet. It did not explode because the Jewish prisoners working in the munitions factories tampered with and defused many grenades.

It was there, in combat that he converted to Christianity and remained a faithful Episcopalian and great supporter of the church for the rest of his life.

After completing a chemical engineering degree at Georgia Tech, his first job was in the field of plastics in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As a budding entrepreneur and while living at the YMCA, he approached the dean of dormitories at Mary Washington College with an idea to install coin operated washers and dryers in the dorms. His idea was accepted and he was introduced to other faculty members. Within a week he was offered a room in the home of an academic dean. This resulted in his eventual service as an adjunct professor at the school. While teaching at Mary Washington College, Bob met and married Elizabeth P. Franklin.

Bob’s expertise in the use of plastic explosives from his army training garnered him a scholarship at Princeton University. His professors admitted that he knew more about plastics than they did and awarded him a Masters Degree in Science and Engineering in 1950.

Bob loved his days at Princeton and remained a loyal member of the Princeton Club for life, sporting his Princeton tie clip often and featuring the Princeton Tiger on his corporate stationery.

From then on, he devoted his life to his family and to building business empires. Initially he went to work at General Electric in Pittsfield, MA where his son was born.

In 1957 he and Elizabeth and his three children moved from Petersburg, VA to Jacksonville where Bob founded Campbell Lurie Plastics, a company which developed and sold Beauty Glide shower doors.

He came up with the idea of beating the Georgia peaches to market with a new strain of peach and founded Florida Peach Corporation of America in Belleview, Florida. His friends Eddy and Helen Siegel remember picking peaches from those orchards! Betsey’s children were also involved.

Bob also knew the President of Paraguay and built his South American Empire on 44,000 acres of land on the Parana River. He and his crew lived in crude log cabins and he said that cruising down the river was less than peaceful because the insects in the jungle sounded like rockets going off.

It was in South America that he met Betsey Manning Kiger, the woman who would bring out the best in him. Her family lived in the area and her grandmother had given generously to fund the building of a new hospital in the region. Bob and Betsey married in 1978. He gained three sons and a wonderful lifemate. They lived in Europe, Ocala and South America before settling in Clearwater.

In his spare time, Bob took courses at the community college and even landed an acting role at the Little Theatre of Jacksonville.

He also became a proficient rose gardener, creating new and beautiful strains of roses through the art of grafting. He is still famous for growing roses with colors and fragrances that are unmatched even today.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth, M. Lurie and his sister, Renee(Harvey) Roseman, one son R. Thornton (Alice) Lurie, two daughters Serena (Stephen) Bloomfield and Katharine (Rick) Jones, as well as two step sons whom he thought of as his own children, Jon (Elaine) Kiger and Russell Kiger; thirteen grandchildren Ethan S. Bloomfield, Rachel M. Bloomfield, Sophie A. Bloomfield, Robert T. Lurie, Sarah E. Lurie, Franklin Peterson Lurie, Jeffrey S. Jones II and Robert F. Jones R. Thomas (Amber) Kiger, Jr, Gabrielle M. Kiger, Jonathan M. Kiger, David P. Kiger and Leigha K. Kiger and 3 great grandchildren Ali, Tricia & Max Bloomfield. Bob was predeceased by a step-son, Paul Kiger and a step daughter-in-law, Eppy Kiger.

Bob did not stop working until he could no longer talk, five days before he died. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.

We miss you, Bob. But we know you’ve pushed back the final horizon and now rest with the angels.

Memorial contributions may be offered to the Children’s Home or SunCoast Hospice. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 10 am at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Clearwater, FL. Interment will take place on Monday, March 3, 2014 at Jacksonville National Cemetery, Jacksonville, FL. Arrangements are being handled by Moss Feaster Funeral Home, Largo, FL, Phone # 727-562-2080. Condolences may be offered at www.mossfeasterlargo.com.