CELEBRATING LOUISE!
Louise was the new gal in the office at Carollwood Village G&TC when she and Bobby met in 1972. Most mornings as the office girls arrived at 8 a.m. Bobby, bouncing from too many cups of coffee, would appear – delivering the receipts from the pro shop. Despite the early hour and loud pesky chatter, Louise always smiled – That Smile!
A year later Bobby (now building the Babe Zaharias GC) called Louise, offering her the job as office manager and coordinator of the snack shop/bar. He suggested a salary of $600 a month. Louise said, “I’ll take the job for $150 a week.” Bobby quickly replied, “Sure!” (Why not! 4X$150 = $600 a month - Right?).
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The two married in October of 1975. Bobby supplied the energy. Louise provided the smarts. Much in love, Bobby & Lou (or was it Lou & Bobby) became an enthusiastic, inseparable team for the remainder of their lives together.
Louise was raised in the small Iowa farm town of Hampton. She attended and graduated from the University of Iowa. She is a member of Chi Omega Sorority.
Louise moved to Tampa, Florida during her early working years. Once she and Bobby were together, the two participated in the production/management and operations of Babe Zaharias GC, Rogers Park GC, Northdale Golf Club, Avila Golf & Country Club and Bloomingdale Golfers Club. When the opportunity to acquire Bloomingdale arrived, Bobby and Lou gathered together a group of friends/investors to buy the club, and Louise stepped forward as the principal partner for the purchase. From 1986 to 1992 she was the First Lady of Bloomingdale and the club’s number one cheerleader. She supervised the office, memberships, and clubhouse operations and quietly provided special insight that assured the club’s success.
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Along the way (while Bobby played golf course developer) Louise established their homes: renovating and rehabbing their 1926 bungalow on Davis Island; furnishing and landscaping a new house in Northdale; then coordinating design, construction, and decoration of their home in Dogwood Hills.
Louise was a lasting friend and mentor to Bobby’s daughter Windy Leigh. Louise coordinated Windy’s wedding to Ron Tucker in 1992. And “Gramma Louie” shared her smile, laughter, and wisdom with Emmaleigh and Tripp (the grandkids).
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Following the sale of their business that same year, Louise and Bobby retired to Biltmore Forest NC. For the next 20 years she and Bobby and (always their dog!) drove and visited 23 different national parks including ten visits to Yellowstone and the Tetons. Twice they traveled all the way to the Oregon coast. Their travels traipsed 60,000 miles back and forth across the USA. They toured England and Scotland by car too.
Louise loved the outdoors. In Biltmore Forest she created an award winning and enduring landscape for their home. Each spring daffodils, azaleas, hosta, dogwood and thousands of daylilies announce the new season at Louise's home.
When the fourth generation of Alzheimer’s in Louise’s family arrived at their home during 2007 Louise was silently brave and gracious, continuing life joyfully, remaining beautiful inside and out every day.
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With Bobby and Teddy Bear Too at her side, Louise passed away at home on December 16, 2013.
Louise's gentle manner, wisdom, joyful spirit, generous smile, and laughter touched all around her.
