Robert Van “Bob” McAnelly of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023, after a brief battle with cancer. Bob was born June 24, 1950, in Washington, D.C. He attended Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge where he met the love of his life, Nell. Bob and Nell married on the night of their college graduation and remained married for 51 years. Bob graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering and received his Juris Doctorate from the Louisiana State University Law School.
Bob was the past chair of the Louisiana Board of Ethics. He was an expert in the area of Tax Sales and spent many years working with the Louisiana Law Institute on that segment of the law. As part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Supreme Court Bob was invited to argue a tax sale case in the Cabildo in New Orleans.
Bob was an honest, hardworking, and humble man, who never wanted fanfare nor expected recognition. He fiercely fought for the underdog and supported local businesses. He was a man of many talents and hobbies. For 48 years, he spent his Friday nights as a high school football referee, including a state championship in the Superdome. He also enjoyed being a member of the sidelines “chain gang” at LSU football games. Bob was a jack of all trades. He had an extensive model train collection, held a patent for equipment used in chemical plants, read voraciously, and loved tinkering with his car collection. He was particularly passionate about his vintage Jaguars and many of his cars won awards and were featured in national television shows. Bob’s friendships were treasured. He especially enjoyed his client buddies, travel friends, supper club groups, and his longtime Saturday morning coffee group. Above all, his greatest love and enjoyment in life came from spending time with his family. He will always be remembered for his wisdom, compassion, fairness, humor, and principles. He leaves this world deeply loved by many.
Bob is survived by his wife Nell Wood McAnelly, his children James Shelton “Jim” (Kristin) and Megan Cardaro (Phil) and grandchildren – Kaitlin, Jacob, Sean Patrick and Evangeline “Eva” McAnelly and Weatherly, Philip, and Robert Cardaro. He is also survived by his siblings Michael “Mickey” McAnelly (Tiny), Dianne Darbonne, and Martha Jane “Janie” Weigand (Bud), sister-in-law Jean Comeaux, brother-in-law Tony Trentacoste, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bob is preceded in death by his beloved daughter Marjorie Claire, his parents Shelton Bigler and Claire Rousseau McAnelly, his sister Kathleen “Kathy” Trentacoste, and his brothers-in-law James Hardin “Hardy” Wood and Joseph “Joe” Darbonne.
Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, Friday, December 22, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Avenue, Baton Rouge, Saturday, December 23, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. followed by a funeral mass at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Greenoaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Donald “Don” Balhoff, John Buie, Philip “Phil” Cardaro, Renwick “Renny” DeVille, Steve Duplechain, Robert Grand, Jacob McAnelly, and Michael “Mickey” McAnelly.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Robert and Nell McAnelly Family Scholarship in memory of Robert McAnelly, LSU Foundation, 3796 Nicholson Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (http://giveLSU.org/robertmcanelly), or the charity of your choice.
