A Man Named Bob

My son Chris and I have had the honor of working with America’s Military Veterans for several years at the Patriots Outpost, which is a vibrant part of The Honda Classic, a PGA Golf Tournament held at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Julie from our team does much of the heavy lifting of communicating and engaging with veterans and their families before the event begins each year.

Though we have been partnered with The Honda Classic for over 10 years, the feeling in the air this year was different. The crowd was excited, guests were having a wonderful time, and the tournament ended with a historic playoff win for Chris Kirk, which ended his 8-year drought.  

We have the honor of working with the Tournament Staff and championing the Patriots Outpost which is located on the 17th hole of this amazing event. The Patriots Outpost Pavilion is a special place, a fun place, and a safe place for those who have served our nation in uniform. The Patriots Outpost hospitality pavilion sponsor, Pratt & Whitney, along with Pillar Partners Tire Kingdom, Lockheed Martin, PGA Reach, SBA Communications and BallenIsles Country Club have helped create a protected place for veterans and their guests, to not just enjoy a few days of great golf, but a dedicated area to commiserate with old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy the company of fellow veterans over the four days of play.  

My good friend Michael Simms, CEO of Veracity Financial Services, and I look forward to spending this week together every year. Michael and I were lieutenants in the 4th Squadron of the 7th Cavalry Regiment (4/7 CAV) at Camp Garry Owen, Korea in 1985.     

While this fantastic event is always great with its legendary Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear Trap - this year, the event was extra special as we were graced with the presence of two World War II Veterans in attendance.  

According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, less than 170,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive today.

What a special treat to be in the presence of these American heroes.  

Nearly 10 years ago, Chris and I met a man named Bob: a Veteran who, we would come to learn, enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 15-years-old during World War II and fought at both Iwo Jima and Okinawa along with several other battles with his fellow seaman and Marines.  Bob smiled a lot while graciously accepting endless kisses from the women, and he spread joy throughout the venue from pro-am through final day of play.

Bob called me his son and Chris his grandson. He often told me how proud he was of me and Chris. 

I took pride in watching my son spend time with Bob. Chris would be engaged in conversation, and I could tell that not only was he was being a good student and learning from their discussions, but Chris truly valued their friendship and hearing Bob’s priceless insight firsthand. They enjoyed each other’s company immensely.

During this year’s tournament, we learned about the loss of two of our WWII Veterans that we had become accustomed to seeing at the Patriots Outpost. Both Harry Isabel and Joseph Reveman passed away mere months before this year’s tournament. I had the unpleasant job of breaking this news to Bob. 

If you have not spent time recently with a member of The Greatest Generation, I encourage you to make this a priority before it’s too late.

Bob never complained about anything – he was too busy collecting kisses (!) – in fact, he often phoned me, as well as Chris, simply to say hello and to check on us.

I asked Bob if he would share his secret to life with me. “Just be kind to others.”

This year, on the last day of play, Bob boarded our golf cart to return to the clubhouse. Unbeknownst to Bob, Chris had asked the pavilion’s guests to stand and salute Bob as we began to depart.

With tears in his eyes, Bob turned and looked directly at me and asked, “What was this for?” and insisted, “I am not a hero.”

I said, “Bob, you are as close to a hero as I will ever meet in my life.”  

Our hero, Bob Massimini, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. He was 97.

Bob was a special man. May everyone enjoy and embrace a Bob in their lifetime.