ROBERT DEFONSO

Robert DeFonso passed away May 26, 2012, at his home near Avon Park, Fla., at the age of 84. Robert, or Bobby D as his friends knew him, was born Oct. 26, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, to Daniel and Lola DeFonso. He grew up in Merrick, New York, on Long Island, graduating from Mepham High School in Bellmore in 1945. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and the U.S. Army. While with the Merchant Marines he sailed the Atlantic and Pacific, and in the Army he parlayed his mechanical skills into service in the motor pool in South Korea in 1948. After leaving the Army he attended Florida Southern College of Lakeland, Fla. There he played baseball, one of his athletic passions, and graduated with a B.A. in 1953. Later that year he found a job working on the tarmac at Idlewild Airport (now known as JFK International) for Trans World Airlines or TWA, where he worked for 37 years. He was recognized in the company as an affable fellow, a quick learner, and a reliable worker and over the years he became the company expert on ticketing procedures. He married Carolyn Dendinger in 1959, and in 1966 moved his young family to Prairie Village, Kan., where he brought his expertise in airline ticketing to the Midwest. Bob worked at TWA's Breech Academy, where he remained almost until his retirement in 1990. During his tenure he became well known within the company, training at TWA stations around the world. In 1994 he married Judy Morriss, and together they moved to Florida in 1995. In life, he enjoyed the company of friends, raising his children, and endless tinkering with almost anything mechanical. He will also be remembered for his love of golf, a passion he pursued even into the days before his passing. Bob requested that some of his ashes be spread on the grounds of the famed Bethpage State Park Golf Course on Long Island where he played from the time he was a young man until he moved to Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Judy; his sons, Daniel, Overland Park, Kan., Chet, Marquette, Mich., and Eric, Fort Collins, Colo.; his daughter, Connie (Dave) Deverill, Shawnee, Kan.; and five grandchildren, Gabrielle and Grant DeFonso and Zach, Nick and Ryan Deverill. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria VA 22331, or via their website at http://www.diabetes.org/donate. A memorial service will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at the Tomahawk Hills Golf Course, 17501 Midland Dr., Shawnee Mission, Kan. "You'll find. . ."