Robert "Bob" Labelle

On Wednesday March 15, we said goodbye to Robert (Bob) LaBelle age 82. Bob died peacefully at the Community Hospice located in downtown Baptist Medical Center surrounded by his family. Bob was born in Pittsburgh, PA on January 20, 1941 but spent most of his life in Jacksonville, FL.  He grew up in Lakeshore, where he attended elementary school and middle school. Bob graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1959. During this time, Bob met the love of his life, Barbara. They eventually got married in 1962 while he was studying at the University of Florida, where he earned a BS Degree in Business Administration in 1966. Bob moved back to Jacksonville and started his job working for Prudential in downtown. He remained there for 28 years, and eventually retired as their Building Operations Manager.

Bob was a phenomenal athlete, devoted husband, loving father, and a strong man. He excelled in all sports, particularly in baseball. He threw multiple no-hitter shutouts and was heavily recruited by Major League Baseball.  Sadly, a wrist injury and botched surgery ended his pitching career.  Bob maintained an active lifestyle while working full time and raising his family.  He was known as an excellent softball player and ran the famous Jacksonville River Run for mutliple years. Bob was also an avid fisherman, spending countless days fishing the Intracoastal Waterway, Nassau Sound, and various lakes in North Florida. He then took up road cycling, raising thousands of dollars for the Tour de Cure Diabetes Foundation. Bob was a devoted member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville before moving to Ponte Vedra in 2017.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Barbara, and his 2 sons Kevin and John along with Kevin's wife Frances LaBelle.  Bob is also survived by his older sister Jeanne Murphy, and older brother Jacque LaBelle and their families.