Robert Elliott Austin

Robert (Bob) E Austin, age 88, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. Born on July 28, 1937, in Columbia, South Carolina, Bob lived a very meaningful life marked by dedication to his family and a long-standing professional career in journalism and bowling. Those left behind to remember Bob is his beloved wife of 59 years Felicia (Carol) Austin, son Robert E Austin Jr., sister in laws Anne (Nancy) B. Militello and Frances Austin plus six nephews and two nieces. Bob is preceded in death by his mother and father George and Margaritte Austin as well as his brother Richard Austin and brother in law Sam Militello.

Bob started his life in Columbia, South Carolina then moved to Tampa, Florida during his Elementary School years. While in Tampa Bob attended Roosevelt Elementary School followed by Woodrow Wilson Junior High School. He then attended Plant High School and graduated from Plant in 1955. While at Plant Bob played baseball and was a flame thrower pitcher. Bob was the first pitcher ever to pitch at Al Lopez Field in 1955 and won that game. Bob helped Plant High School become city champs and defeated Jesuit and Hillsborough in the city title battle. After Plant High School Bob attended Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama.

In 1957 Bob started with the Tampa Daily Times sports department where his sports writing began. Then in 1960 Bob joined the US Army and held several positions concluding with supporting the Seventh Army Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, West Germany which he handled all of the correspondence for the higher-ranking officers. After being honorably discharged from the Army Bob starting working for the Stars and Stripes sports department in Darmstadt, West Germany.

In the 1950’s Bob took up the sport of Bowling. His belief was that in order to report on any sport you had to be personally invested in it. Besides bowling Bob was also involved in waterskiing, Jai alai, and Judo, but bowling was Bob’s passion.

Once Bob got back to the US mainland he went back to work as a sports writer now working for the Tampa Tribune in 1965. This is where he met his wife the love of his life Felicia (Carol) Austin. Felicia was working at the Tampa Tribune in the morgue (library) where Bob met her. They enjoyed going out to the Hawaiian Village for drinks and dancing plus Bob took Felicia out to Morrisons downtown for lunch during the week on their lunch breaks. The following year they got married.

During the time Bob worked for the Tampa Tribune he bowled in bowling leagues around Tampa which were at the old Florida Lanes and Regal lanes which is Pin Chasers now. Not only did Bob play in leagues, but he also wrote articles on people bowling in these leagues. Bob would visit all the bowling lanes in Tampa to get the story about that one outstanding bowler. Some of these bowlers included Jack Sardenga and Jerry Brownstein. Not only did Bob write Bowling articles, but was the sports editor for the Tampa Tribune. Long late nights at the Sports desk, but Bob managed to get that first edition out quickly each night.

Several years later while Bob was still working at the Tampa Tribune he took a break from bowling and volunteered his time at his son’s school which involved directing traffic at St. Lawrence School when kids were being picked up at the end of the school day. Plus, also gave his time to Tampa Catholic School. Bob went back to bowling and participated in a bowler’s writing contest and was the first writer in the 35-year history of the Bowling Magazine national writing contest to win two first -place awards in the same year, creating a sweep of top honors in the four categories since joining the organization in 1978.

On April 4, 1984 Bob was bowling in a league at Major League Lanes (was also AMF University Lanes). Out of the three games he bowled the second game was something special. Bob bowled eleven strikes in a row and in the tenth frame that last ball took down nine pins for a score of 299. It was that pesky four pin that did not want to go down to obtain a perfect score of 300. Bob was so proud.

Eventually Bob had to put away that bowling bag and got involved in the local musical theater in Tampa. Bob joined the Spanish Lyric Theater in January 1997. Bob was a part of several musicals including South Pacific, Hello Dolly, The Merry Widow, Sound of Music, Oliver, Oklahoma, The Music Man, and many more. Bob truly enjoyed being on stage. Anyone attending these musicals could tell who Bob was due to his singing voice.

In 2014 Bob reached the height of his bowling career and was elected into the Bowlers Hall of Fame. This was a very long time coming and very well deserved. Bob was always looking out for all the bowlers in the Tampa community and giving them their time in the spotlight in his weekly bowling column.

Bob was a family man surrounded by a large Italian family. Bob was that type of person to give the shirt off his back to anyone. He was a great husband and father and will truly be missed. I am sure Bob is in heaven running the bowling alley up in the sky and giving bowling tips to everyone.

We will all miss you Bob and hope you are “Striking Out” in heaven.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday July 17th at 11:00am. The family will welcome and greet friends inside the entrance of the church beginning at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or the charity of your choice.