Robert W. Gelinas

Gelinas, Robert W.
March 1, 1931 - March 25, 2010

Robert W. Gelinas of Sarasota died March 25, 2010.
Robert was born March 1, 1931, to Robert A. Gelinas and Mary Sandor Gelinas in Springfield, Mass. He was an artist, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and dear friend to many.
Robert attended the University of Connecticut (1949-1951) and the Julliard School of Music in New York ('51). Working as a jazz musician, he joined the Air Force in 1951 and became a member of the Air Force Band. Upon release from the Air Force in 1953, he attended the University of Alabama, completing his BFA and MFA degrees in art in 1958, and began teaching as an assistant professor of art at Memphis State University (1959-1963), and as a tenured professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa (1963-1998).
Robert W. Gelinas had a long and distinguished career as an artist and teacher. He was a winner of many awards and grants, and exhibited extensively in the national and regional exhibitions, including two Corcoran Biennials in Washington, D.C., and winner of some 44 major awards, grants and fellowships in painting and performance art. Robert's work is included in permanent and private collections including the Tampa Museum, the Polk Museum in Lakeland, the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee, and the High Museum in Atlanta. He was also a member of the "Fine Art Society" in Sarasota, and has a painting in their art collection at the Van Wezel Performing Art Center.
Bob, as he was mostly called, is survived by his wife of 32 years, Maria Haglich-Gelinas; three sons, Robert Jr. and wife Marvella of Tampa, Craig Gelinas, his wife Lori and grandson Tyler of Land O'Lakes, Gary Sandor Gelinas, his wife Mae, grandchildren Brittany and Justin, and great-grandson Mark Ryan of Jacksonville; sister Diane Chartier and husband Andy; and nieces Lynn Bliss, husband Tom and son Robert, and Tracy Holmes, husband Jeff and family.
Robert died of pulmonary fibrosis at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Maria and the family would like to thank his doctors, Todd Horiuchi, D. Reichel, and C. Nalluri, nurses, and staff for taking such good care of Bob during his last two weeks of life. The staff's professionalism, empathy, understanding and good humor helped in making Bob's last days comfortable and safe-feeling. He would say, "They're great!"
We'll miss Bob and his gentle and creative personality, his affinity for words and word puzzles, and his great creative and artistic mind.
To view some of Bob's paintings, please visit his Web site: www.RobertWGelinas.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota Inc. for the Robert Gelinas Scholarship, P.O. Box 1432, Sarasota, FL 34230-1432 c/o Susan C. Bradford.