Robert Anderson “Bob” Hawkins Jr  October 13, 1934 - August 7th, 2020
Owner of “Bob’s River Place” 

 Robert Anderson “Bob” Hawkins Jr, 85, of “Bob’s River Place”, Branford, Florida transitioned to his heavenly home on Friday, August 7, 2020 at 11:34pm. In 1934, Bob Hawkins was born in Greensboro, North Carolina to parents Robert Anderson Hawkins Sr. and Margaret Turner - Hawkins. Bob is Best Known for his adventurous “Swiss Family Robinson” type wild adventure creation, known as “Bob’s River Place”. Words from some of Bob’s facebook fans are: “he created a place that was magical”, “brought genuine joy to so many ”, “what he did for people is beyond words”, "an amazing soul”. Above all, he loved seeing how his creations put smiles on so many faces.

Bob was a Creative Entrepreneur with a larger than life imagination. In his early life , he learned architectural design, building, engineering skills, farming and horticulture from his dad, Robert A Hawkins Sr, who also taught him the family business “Hawkins Skating Rink”. So, in his 20s, Bob branched out to own multiple skating rinks of his own. In the early 1950s, he served as a paratrooper for the Army’s 82nd Airborne, where he also developed his culinary arts skills as a  military chef. In the early 1960s he moved to Miami where he became a pilot, flying C-119s and owned and operated “Sunny Isles Boat Marina” regularly serving many celebrity customer, including the cast of "Surf Side Six", Charlton Heston, Troy Donahue and Phil Donahue.  In sports, he was a skilled Skater, Water Skier, Scuba Diver, Rope Jumper and enjoyed speed boating. Bob was quite the daredevil and managed to survived a plane crash and a near fatal speed boating accident.

He enjoyed cooking. Some of his favorites were fried potatoes, chili, jalapeño eggs, sautéed  green pepper, onion, mushroom combo, cajun shrimp on creamed brown rice,  home made wine and german chocolate cake. Known for his generosity, fascinating stories, his cool and calm demeanor, cleverness, creativity, kind heart, smile and being a friend to all squirrels, he will be missed by so many! He built three houses; one in Naples, Florida, one in Arenal, Costa Rica (now a vacation destination known as "Arenal Springs Villas by the Lake") and one on the Suwannee River, where “Bob’s River Place” was born. He had also been an active environmentalist in the beginnings of SOS (Save Our Suwannee) dedicated to keeping the Suwannee River Clean and Pristine. You can reach his niece, Sara Beth Gardner at 352-542-7363 or 941-724-7783 and may send cards, photos, memories or anything in remembrance to 2878 NE HWY 340, Branford, Florida 32008.

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