Robert N. "Bob" Babbish

Babbish, Robert N.
June 6, 1915 - Jan. 24, 2012

Robert N. "Bob" Babbish, 96, of Sarasota died Jan. 24, 2012.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Toale Brothers Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday St. Jude Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Delphine M.; a daughter, Dr. Happy Babbish, a veterinarian in Houston, Texas; a son, Byron C. Babbish (Elaine), a lawyer in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; and three grandchildren, Chelsea, Michael and Brigid Babbish.
Bob Babbish and his Loving Wife of 60 years, Delphine, both retired and moved from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. to Sarasota, Fla. in 1982.
Bob survives his five siblings, Rose (Koss), John, Walter, Frank and Chester. Born in Helvetia, Pa., the family moved to Detroit when Bob was 5.
He graduated from University of Detroit School of Commerce and Finance in 1941. He was a Captain in the U.S. Army, enlisting upon graduation from College and Served in Europe during World War II in the 13th Corps Special Services and USO Service. He then worked as a manufacturer's rep. in Detroit until retirement. Bob was one of the Best Amateur Golfers from the State of Michigan. In College, Bob won 24 Golf Matches Playing as Captain for the University of Detroit, culminating with a Victory over Notre Dame, Captained by Walter Hagen, Jr., in 1941. Known as the greatest U-D Golfer of all-time and the No. 1 Collegiate Golfer in the Nation in 1938, Bob was the First U-D Athlete other than a football or basketball player to win a Varsity Letter. Bob gained recognition as one of the State's First Amateurs when he captured the 1935 Michigan Amateur. He won the Michigan Open Amateur in 1934 and 1937, the Michigan Medalist in 1956 and 1957. Bob's Greatest Golf Achievement was winning the Prestigious 1938 Western Amateur Golf Championship in South Bend, Ind., a National Event and the only Michigan Golfer to ever win this Title. He played in Five U. S. Amateur Tournaments and Seven U. S. Opens. He never turned Pro but finished Eighth in the 1950 Motor City Open Besting the likes of Ben Hogan, Cary Middlecoff and Sam Sneed. Bob was the Club Champion at the Detroit Golf Club many times while he was a member there from 1951 to 1982. He was a member of the Meadows Country Club in Sarasota for the past 20 years where if he wasn't playing golf you would find him enjoying a Game of Bridge. Bob played Golf until he was 94 years old and had 13 holes-in-one. Bob was Inducted into the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame (1979), the University of Detroit Sports Hall of Fame (1980) and the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame (1989).
In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations be made to the Bob Babbish Memorial Fund for the Men's Golf Program at the University of Detroit Mercy, 4001 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, Michigan 48221-3038