Robert W Christensen

Robert Walter Christensen was born in Douglas, MI on March 6, 1961 to Robert and Marisa Christensen. Robert or “Bobby” as he was more affectionately known grew up in Fennville and Holland, MI; however his love was always for Florida where he would visit his grandparents, Marie and Ove Christensen, in Jensen Beach every summer. He was an accomplished saxophone player by the age of 12 holding first chair throughout middle and high school. Although not a huge sports fan, he was an accomplished swimmer and ice skater in and on the many lakes and ponds that cover the Michigan landscape. In 1978, at age 17 he moved to Jensen Beach to live with his widowed grandmother where he completed Cosmetology school. He worked in various salons in south Florida from Lake Worth to Fort Pierce for many years providing original hair stylings and makeup for several prominent designer and modeling shows. In 1992, he moved to Acworth, GA to live with his brother, sister-in-law and two nephews. He remained in Georgia until 2004, but eventually found his way back to Florida and the Port Saint Lucie/Jensen Beach area.

In October 2006, while riding his bike home from work along U.S. 1 in Port Saint Lucie, Bobby was struck head-on by a pick-up truck and suffered massive, life-threatening injuries including the loss of his right leg. He was medevaced to Saint Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach where he received no less than three complete blood transfusions and went into cardiac arrest on at least two separate occasions. But Bobby refused to give up; and although he remained in the ICU for many months, he eventually recovered well enough to return home. Although unable to work, he never gave up on his goal of total independence becoming as adept as a NASCAR driver on his electric-scooter.

In 2008, he purchased his own home – in where else? Jensen Beach, FL. He lived in his home until 2013 when his debilitating condition made it difficult for him to meet the physical demands of daily life. In 2013, he moved into Harbor Place, Port Saint Lucie where he flourished as the young man on campus. A very social person, he became quite the socialite engaging in many campus activities including his most prominent – smoking and swapping stories with the other residents on the patio. He loved to eat and to cook and managed to whip up some pretty decadent dishes from time to time including homemade baked beans and cornbread, potpies, stuffed shells, and Spanish paella. He loved Star Trek (original series), Pomeranians, the beach, the Indian River, mac-n-cheese, a good hot dog, vodka martinis, and Benson & Hedges Ultra Menthol 100s. He also loved to travel making trips to Spain, France, England, Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean.

Bobby is survived by his mother, Marisa Christensen of Port Saint Lucie, FL; his brother William, sister-in-law Shelly and nephew Chad Christensen of Holland, MI; his brother Richard, sister-in-law Laura and nephews Joseph, Nicholas and Andrew Christensen of Saint Leonard, MD; his Uncle Rick, Aunt Betsy and cousins Cari and Kelli Christensen of Tampa, FL; his Aunt Carmen, Uncle Miguel and cousins Marta and Eva Hacar, Aunt Lourdes and Uncle Jose-Luis Jimenez, and Aunt Mari-Jose and cousin Jaime Bermejo of Madrid, Spain. He was predeceased by his father, Robert and his nephew, Jeffrey.

Bobby was generous, kind, and funny; and although his life was at times plagued with struggles, he was never one to give up. Bobby lost his struggle with renal failure on 16 January 2014 in his apartment at Harbor Place. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his honor to the Alzheimer’s Association, 333 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL; Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, 4100 SW Leighton Farms Ave, Palm City, FL; and/or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, 4360 Northlake Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.