Obituary
“In Loving Memory of a Gentle Captain”
Robert “Bob” Morgan Duff peacefully departed this world on the evening of November 10, 2023. Bob was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, & friend to many. Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beverly Duff; daughters: Danielle Menzies (Christopher), Stacey Bohannon (James), Morgan Chapman (Robert); grandchildren: Hayden, Sutton, James, Jackson, Aislynn, & Samantha; & siblings: Shirlou Fisher (Bo) & Judi Addison and their dear families; aunt: Betsy Hill & cousin: Marcy Cole. He is joined in the hands of the Lord with his Father, Omar “Duffy” Duff & Mother, Shirley Duff, along with many cherished family members, dear friends, and special four legged fur babies.
Bob was a man who would choose kindness over conflict. He was humble, and always had a level-headed demeanor. His poise and thoughtful consideration was a guiding principle to many of us. His dedication extended far beyond the walls of his home, reaching into the hearts of his family, friends, clients, and colleagues.
A man of simplicity, Bob found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He kept Captain Morgan well stocked, and enjoyed it w/ tonic, A LOT of ice, & a twist of lime- preferably in a Tervis Tumbler. His nightly ritual of freshly popped popcorn was accompanied by a huge cup of UNSWEET iced tea. His sister’s tea was his all time favorite. And his girls would often chug his entire cup. He would just smile, then get up and refill it, only for another daughter to come along and chug it. Something about it being Daddy’s tea just made it taste better.
He loved to tinker [especially with the boat] & had an affinity for power tools and woodworking. If we asked for it, and designed it, he’d build it. He inherited that talent from his father, and would spend hours in his “workshop”. He had so many tools that neighbors and friends would call to borrow things, and sure enough he’d have it. It was fascinating to watch him create something out of a rough draft that we drew on a scratch piece of paper. Many of us have pieces that he built proudly displayed in our homes, and take as much pride in owning them as he did building them.
He enjoyed sailing & cruising the local waters, and navigating the Atlantic crossing to the Abacos aboard Chase the Clouds & Xanadu. He grew up knowing the Abacos & shared that with his family & friends on multiple trips. Jimmy Buffet led him through most of his life, while Garth was a co-leader, both with songs that he’d recite with just one note. He had an affinity for Disney movies, and loved to sing along to many of the catchy tunes, especially “Hakuna Matata”. You could call it his motto. His tenure with the local sailing club, CMCS, lasted decades, and he loyally served as Commodore & Vice Commodore multiple times. CMCS was his home away from home, filled with lifelong friendships and memories for all of us.
From a young age, Bob developed a passion for fast cars, a love that would stay with him throughout most of his life. He raced cars BC (in our family, that stands for “before children”) & the pictures of those times are priceless. He channeled this same enthusiasm into restoring his cherished MGs, and would beam with pride as he drove down McGregor Blvd with the top down as he shifted into each gear. His guards red ‘88 Porsche 911 Targa was his dream car, which he bought on a whim one sunny day in 2003. He loved to take on any opponent who felt the need to challenge him at a red light. There’s some great stories there that we’ll let him keep.
His penchant for punctuality was legendary; comedic actually. The motor was always running, and the wheels in motion long before any of his 3 daughters were ready for their family adventures. The running joke in our family has always been “does Dad have the motor running yet?” Bless his heart as he somehow had the patience to wait on not 1, not 2, not 3, but FOUR females to get ready. Hence, his “workshop”.
While our family may have driven him to the brink of madness with our chaos growing up, a revolving door of new pets, parties that may [or may not] have been allowed, and the constant stream of friends and family flowing through our home, there was an undeniable joy in his eyes. It was as if he thrived on the lively energy that surrounded him—a chaos that was uniquely ours.
Bob lived his life with integrity, and this principle extended into his professional life. In the world of real estate, he was a titan—a respected figure with an impressive resume spanning from land development & commercial to residential sales. His knowledge was unparalleled, earning him the reputation of a walking, talking dictionary of real estate wisdom. If anyone ever had a question, it was “Ask Bob, he’ll know or he’ll find it.” He was a mentor to many, and loved nothing more than seeing others succeed in the real estate industry. Helping others was his passion, and so many gained from his patience, dry humor, & wisdom.
As we mourn the loss of a remarkable man, let us remember Bob for his legacy of kindness, dedication, and integrity that will forever live on in our hearts. May his spirit find eternal peace, and may we continue to draw strength from the lessons he taught us through a life well-lived.
A Tribute to Bob’s Life will be held on February 8, 2024. All are welcome to attend.
1:30pm with Reception to follow
Riverside Community Center
3061 East Riverside Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33916
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Edison Sailing Center, as Bob’s passion for youth sailing was evident in his volunteerism & commitment, especially as it was related to getting the center up and running after Hurricane Ian.”
Service
3061 East Riverside Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Leave a reply