Robert P. “Bob” Vomacka

Robert P. “Bob” Vomacka, 94, of Belleair Bluffs, FL passed away on October 13, 2014. Born in New York City on April 12, 1920, to John and Frieda Vomacka, he was raised in the Bronx. He enjoyed many adventures with his parents and three brothers (Ed, Hank and Jack), including a two month car trip from New York to California in 1926, in an Oakland that his father had converted into a camping marvel. Other summers were spent at the family farm in East Jewett, New York. In 1941, he graduated from Wagner College where he was senior class president and captain of the track team.

During World War II, he proudly served in Assam, India with the 803rd Medical Air Evacuation Squadron of the Army Air Corps, the squadron responsible for all air evacuation within the China-Burma-India Theater. Once home, he attended Cornell medical school, graduating in 1950. During his internship and residency at Hartford Hospital, he met and married the love of his life, Janet “Bonnie” Gray.

In 1955, they moved to Clearwater where he opened his radiology practice, ultimately specializing in radiation therapy. He was on staff at Morton Plant Hospital and served as Chief of Medicine in 1962-1963. Affectionately called “Dr. V” by many, one of his medical partners once said of him, “If you couldn’t get along with Bob Vomacka, you couldn’t get along with anyone.” He loved fishing and other sports, especially football. From 1959 until his death, he enjoyed spending time with his family and hosting many parties and events at the family home in Belleair Bluffs. He was a Boy Scout and an active 50 year member of the Sertoma Club.

He was preceded in death by Bonnie and is survived by son Jeffrey Vomacka; daughters Wendy Vomacka, Holly Frank and Laura Nelson; grandchildren Robert Frank and Kelly Nelson; and many nieces and nephews. Graveside services are 12:45 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2014 at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., after which friends and family will be celebrating his life at the family home in Belleair Bluffs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to AmVets, Wagner College or Coastal Conservation Association Florida.

Wagner College — Please send gifts in memory of Robert Vomacka ’41, to Wagner College, Office of Institutional Advancement, attention Kristen Krista, One Campus Road, Staten Island, NY 10301 or make a gift online at www.wagner.edu/give.

Coastal Conservation Association Florida— Please send gifts to CCA-Florida, P.O. 568886, Orlando , FL 32856 or make a gift online at www.ccaflorida.org. Online after providing credit card information, while on the review screen, please click on the special instructions button/tab to add a note that it is in memory of Robert Vomacka.

AMVETS– Please send gifts in memory of Robert Vomacka to AMVETS National Service Foundation, 4647 Forbes Blvd., Lanham, MD 20706 or make a gift online at http://www.amvetsnsf.org/.

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