Robert Edward Churuti

Robert Edward Churuti, Jr., 76, passed away at his home with his wife Susan by his side, from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease.   Bob was born on August 14, 1949 in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Robert Edward Churuti, Sr and Betty Jean Hutchison Churuti. His family moved to St Petersburg when he was a child.   He was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his wife, Susan Hamilton Churuti, his two sisters, Deborah Jean Deacon (Carl) and Donna Louise Trumm, his brothers-in-law John McFarland Hamilton, Jr. and Courtnay Cowper Hamilton lll (Kitti), his nieces and nephews, Marybeth Deacon Rubinacci (Andrew), Benjamin Edward Miller (Sarah), John McFarland Hamilton lll (Marina), Marissa Autumn Hamilton (Colton), and Savannah Haley Hamilton (Cameron), and his great-nieces and nephews Dimitri Miller, Victoria Miller, Alexandria Miller, Nicolas Edward Rubinacci, Drew Rubinacci, Nicole Erica Hamilton, John McFarland Hamilton IV, and  Miles Deering Sims.   Bob was a real estate broker, mortgage broker and appraiser and owned the largest residential real estate appraisal firm in Pinellas County, averaging 130 appraisals a week. He sold it to his employees, and concentrated on development efforts for mixed use condominiums at 400 Beach and Parkshore Plaza on Beach Drive. Dubbed the “Mayor of Beach Drive” by the Times, he enjoyed dining at Parkshore Grill knowing that he had a small part in the great success of Steve Westphal and Tyson Grant there over 19 years. He was often seen at lunch with his great pals Tony Rondolino, Mike Cheek and Joe Jimenez and at dinner with his dear friend and best golfing buddy Emory Wood.   Bob was an athlete: the city bowling champion with his lifelong friend Bob White, a screwball pitching ace in the American Legion baseball league, the tennis inter-mural champion at Florida State, and the Match Play Champion, Senior Champion and Member-Member Champion at the Vinoy Golf Club, where he discovered with his golfing buddies Emory Wood, Larry Williams, Joe Boulay and Frank Farkas that You Can’t Fix Stupid. As the mayor’s appointment to the St Petersburg Sports Council, Bob connected the Valspar LPGA event to the Suncoast Girl Scouts on their 100th anniversary, resulting in a designation of the Girl Scouts as the official LPGA charity nationwide.   Bob loved watching baseball, and was a Rays season ticket holder from the first pitch until he could no longer attend games due to his health. He especially enjoyed watching the games and sharing observations at the Trop with his great baseball pals Jim Cornwell and Jim Thompson.   He had a bright intellect and was a member of Mensa. He enjoyed using his skills to help his community, serving as Chair of the Pinellas Arts Council with his friend Susan Latvala, and on the boards of the Florida Orchestra, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Morean Art Center, the Mahaffey Foundation and the Bill Edwards Foundation.   Bob attended St Pete High, St Petersburg College and FSU, all with his friend and wingman Tony. He claimed to be dyslexic when he was appointed to the campus board at University of South Florida St Petersburg. He served eight years with the support of his longtime friend Dr. Helen Levine, and was never happier than when he was acting as a “handful of howdy and a mouthful of glad” for the school. When he was unable to continue his service, he was recognized as a campus board member emeritus and his wife Susan took his place on the board for four more years to further his goals for the campus. As a disabled Army veteran, Bob was especially interested in supporting students through the Veterans Center on campus. He was especially aware of their needs as his godson Mitchell Flowers and his wife Jessi, both Army helicopter pilots, are currently deployed near Ukraine.   Above all, Bob was a loyal, loving and steadfast husband to his wife Susan.   In accordance with Bob’s wishes, he will be interred after a family service at the columbarium in the garden of the Cathedral Church of St Peter, where he was married and remained a loyal member for 43 years. The family is very grateful to the clergy, music director, staff and parishioners there for their love and support over the years as well as to the executive director, pastor, staff and many kind neighbors and friends at Westminster Shores who helped him through his journey with Parkinson’s.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to USF Foundation in memory of Robert E Churuti to USF St Petersburg Veterans Services Support Fund (PV0008) at the Office of Donor Relations, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620, Attn: Beth Corbin or online at https://giving.usf.edu/online/gift/f/PV0008/