Robert Joseph Bertrand

LAKELAND – Robert (Bob) Bertrand, 80, passed away Monday, December 23, 2019 at Lakeland Regional Health while surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born in Nashville at Vanderbilt Hospital on December 25, 1938 to the late Robert and Gilliam Bertrand. He was raised in nearby Pulaski, Tennessee. Growing up, Bob learned early on that summer vacations were not intended only for fun as his parents instilled a value of hard work in all of his endeavors. So, at age 11, he became part of the workforce by mowing lawns. Over the next several years, Bob held other jobs ranging from a drugstore soda jerk, to working in both a bicycle manufacturing plant and a Union Carbide plant making carbon electrodes. One of his last summer jobs occurred between his first and second years in law school when he went to work at the CIA headquarters in Langley, VA in the science and mathematics division. In what spare time he had in his youth, Bob enjoyed playing football, basketball, and even earned the rank of Eagle Scout. This work ethic and desire to succeed in all ventures led Bob to graduate as valedictorian from Giles County High School where he earned a full scholarship to The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. While at Sewanee, he majored in mathematics and received his B.A. with Honors in 1961. Bob’s academic honors in undergraduate school included election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Following his time at Sewanee, Bob attended law school at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi and the Editorial Board of the Duke Law Journal. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in November of 1964 and practiced with a law firm in Orlando, Florida for four years. In 1968, Bob moved to Lakeland, Florida and became a partner and shareholder of the Lane Trohn law firm (now Gray|Robinson) where he specialized in corporate, tax, and real estate law. He was named to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite for 2004, 2005, and 2006. Bob spent the remainder of his career practicing at the firm until he retired in 2006. While law brought him to Lakeland, Florida he made the city his home with his family. He was active in Community Affairs having served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the Lakeland President’s Roundtable. Bob was President of the Sertoma Club of Lakeland and was a Life Member of Sertoma International. He served as Trustee of the City of Lakeland Employees Pension Plan and volunteered with VISTE. Bob married Diane in 1995 and combined they had six children. They enjoyed traveling and visited upwards of four continents. Some of their travels included, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Italy, Greece, France, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Other fun trips included time spent in Costa Rica, Hawaii, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. After a trip to China they were inspired to host a Florida Southern Student from China (Claire – American name). Their combined love of travel led Bob and Diane to celebrate Bob’s 80th birthday in an especially fun way by taking their children and grandchildren to Alaska on a cruise in July of 2018. Most recently in September of 2019 Bob and Diane cruised to Iceland, Greenland, and Nova Scotia. While on the trip they were fortunate enough to visit the Blue Lagoon. Bob was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where he served as a Lay Minister and participated in the small group “Faith in Action”. Another favorite pastime was golfing. Bob could often be found watching golf, practicing his swing in the garage, or on one of the many courses he enjoyed playing. He achieved his first hole-in-one on March 30, 2010 on hole #6 at Grasslands Golf and Country Club of which he became a charter member in 1991. Living in Grasslands gave Bob the ability to just jump on his golf cart and be on the course in minutes in addition to providing him with a large group of friends. Bob enjoyed participating in a Couples Gin Group with Diane and other residents. Bob was surrounded by a very large family and was loved beyond measure. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Robert and Gilliam Bertrand and his stepson, Carmon Green. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Diane, brother Bill Bertrand (Betty, Tennessee) daughters, Debbie Testerman (Bill, Virginia), Cindy Cinquanti (Steve), Kathy Fazio (Mark), and stepsons Chad Green and Kyle Green (Stephanie). Bob was an uncle to nephew Collin Atnip (Teresa, Georgia) and niece Bridget Bertrand (California), grandnephew John Atnip (Georgia), and grandnieces Kari Atnip (Georgia) and Chloe Paulson (California). Bob was a beloved Papa to seven grandchildren who thought he hung the moon: Madeline Testerman, Mia and McKenzie Cinquanti, Carmon and Cory Green, and Elias and Macsen Green. Visitation will be held on January 2, 2020 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church 4450 Harden Blvd Lakeland, FL 33813. A funeral service will be held on January 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. also at St. Paul Lutheran Church, with a luncheon to follow. Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bob’s name or to The First Tee of Lakeland 1740 George Jenkins Blvd Lakeland, FL 33815 to honor his love of both church and golf. Bob’s legacy will be that he was a servant leader who loved his family.