I would like to express my sincere expression of sympathy to you Mrs. Tavernaro, Lynn and Bobby.
Coach Tavernaro was a great Coach and an even better Man. He made an impact on my life that I carry with me still today. I remember those horrible summer two a day practices where the true toughness came out. I also saw that caring, loving and concern in our FCA huddles. I will never forget my senior year of high school and our last game. I thanked Coach for all he did, and we embraced each other with a big hug with tears coming down both of our faces. That was a moment I will never forget.
Coach Tavernaro and I hadn’t seen each other for thirty years. Our path crossed seven years ago once again on a football field. When we saw each other, we embraced in a hug. We laughed and talked about the good old days at Grandview High School. To all those student athletes we have lost a great one!!
Even in the corporate world today I still use what was instilled in me… The three D’s Desire… Dedication and Discipline.
You will be missed by many! Thanks for the impact you made! 


I share Tom Karczewski's memory of the toughest guy I ever knew.  He had a tattoo of a flea on his "side" and adopted that name as a livelong moniker. I had some wild times with him from Warrensburg to Hollywood.  Semper Fi, my dear friend.

What an awesome man...I’m so sorry, all of you, for your loss. Our dads are hard to let go of - especially when they have left such an impact!

Personally, Coach Tav was a teacher (to me), a well respected and admired coach and fellow athlete (to my dad), and a coach to my boys at Miege. 

More than anything, I know he was a man of faith, a husband and a father, a marine protecting us all, and a coach to hundreds of young men. God rest his soul. 

I had the great pleasure of having coach TAV as my high school track coach at Southwest. His leadership, teaching and overall discipline he instilled to the team and the values he taught not only to team members but to me personally I have remembered thru out not only my life but my professional career. He was one of the great people I have known and will be fondly missed.

On behalf of Michele and myself, our sincere condolences to the entire Tavernaro family.     I have heard many great stories about Bob, and have shared a few drinks with Bob Jr over the past few years to know, Bob Sr was a great influence and will be greatly missed.       Our prayers are with the entire family.     

I had the privilege to work on Coach Tav's football staff for seven years.  Bob had an amazing mind for the sport and was a pleasure to work with both on the field and in the classroom.   A great leader of young men who taught lifetime skills as well as skills in sports - he touched a lot of young men and women.  One of my favorite memories is when he started the GI Club at Bishop Miege and our weekly meetings on Thursday nights after football practice.  RIP Coach!

My first teaching/coaching job right out of college was at Bishop Miege High School in KC as an assistant in both football and basketball (80-85).  With my being a Western Kansas farm boy, Coach Tav called me "Country Joe" (aka Country Joe and the Fish--rock band).  No pun intended, as a young, single man with rural roots and no relatives in the KC area, I was clearly a "fish out of water."  Along with Kitty+Tom Colwell and Velma+John Dillon, Coach Tav and Mary took me under their wings and not only mentored me in all things fb/bb, but also taught me the "metropolitan" culture and, more importantly, kept me "adequately fed" with some awesome Italian/Irish/American food.

I have several lasting impressions of Coach Tav.  First of all, he was the only person EVER to call me "Coacher," and this was every time I wasn't Country Joe.  

Secondly, Coach Tav had more jokes than you could shake a stick at.  Seriously, on every new encounter he would have at least 10 new jokes.  And the funniest thing about the jokes is how he would chuckle at them himself.

Thirdly, just out of college where I was a three-sport athlete at 6-4, 230 lbs, from the first day I met Tav, I said to myself, "here's a relatively small-in-stature, street-tough Marine, who could easily kick my ass."

Next, Coach Tav was indeed THE most knowledgeable football coach I've ever met with regard to the Wishbone Offense.  In fact, I remember vividly when Charlie McBride, Nebraska's defensive coordinator at the time, wanted Tav to come to NU and explain all the nuances of the 'Bone so NU might have a better chance to stop Barry Switzer's Oklahoma Wishbone.  Wow!  Now that's respect!

Lastly, I won't forget the hospitality shown me by the Tavernaro family in a time when I had/knew no one.  Bob was my mentor+friend, Mary made me feel at home, I had Lynn in class, and Bobby and I developed a friendship through his hanging around at fb practice.

No question--"Coacher" will be sorely missed by all.

Met Bob in the fall of 1962 at the University of Central Missouri and have been friends ever since. Also served with “Gunner Tav”  in the Marine Corps where he was considered by all to be  an “Outstanding” Marine. He was the toughest guy I ever knew and I always thought he’d be around forever.  He epitomized true friendship and he’ll be missed. 
Semper Fi, Gunner. 

I had the privilege to have Bob as my coach, drivers ed. teacher, fellow parishioner, fellow Marine, and most importantly friend.
The number of people he had a positive impact upon is countless.  Thank you, his family for sharing him with us.
God bless you Bob.
Semper Fidelis,
shorty

Bob interviewed with me in 1990 and there was no question in my mind I had anew defensive coordinator. During our time together we enjoyed doing things outside of football. We spent a great deal of time having fun teasing Tom Caldwell. 
He was always teaching on and off the field. Players and staff gained insights not only into football, how to be successful, but also into life itself. He had a million and one stories as well as Tavisms which I still repeat to this day. 
Bob and Tom are no doubt sharing stories but also trying to out whopper one another.  It is gray and lonely here without the two of them.

Coach was my driver education teacher at Southwest High School and then in 1972 he was my supervising teacher when I did my student teaching at Grandview High School in driver education.  He was a great teacher, coach, and friend through the years.  Sending hugs and life long memories to his family and friends!

I first met Bob when he began teaching driver education at Southwest High School my senior year. There were many days that Coach would  "repark" my car since I had  hastily parked in a no parking zone.

After college I began teaching at Grandview High School where I spent many wonderful years working with Coach Bob Tavernaro. Oh the jokes he played on this 21 year-old rookie teacher!!

We were colleagues and dear friends. Remarkable man who touched innumerable lives of young people and friends. We've lost a really, really good one but I have no doubt he is still calling the plays ...and winning ....among the angels.  RIP Coach!
My sincerest condolences to his family and to our Grandview Bulldog family.

Mr. Tavanaro was always very kind to me and my brother Steve while we cleaned the locker rooms at Miege back in the late 70s.  I enjoyed visiting with him at the Miege auctions. He was a great role model for me.

Mary, Lynn, and Bobby, we wish to send our sympathy upon the passing of a darn good man.  We highly valued his friendship.  from a fellow DLS cadet,  Jack and all the Gladbachs

enthusiastic and prepared...those were my first and lasting impressions of coach. we first connected in the mid 70's when i was the FCA  staffer for the area and coach was at grandview . i got to see bob in action many times as his athletes competed. he was always on top of the situation win or lose. he has left a wonderful legacy for so many.

OBITUARY

Robert K. Tavernaro

July 30, 1943 – November 16, 2019

McGilley State Line Chapel

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