Robert Frederick Cromwell

Family-Placed Funeral Notice

ROBERT FREDERICK CROMWELL, ESQ Robert Frederick Cromwell, of Jupiter, Florida, known as “Mullet” to his many friends, passed away on January 6, 2007. He was born on October 16, 1918 in Evansville, Indiana, the only child of John and Irene Cromwell. Bob never knew his father who died when Bob was an infant; his father died from tuberculosis which he contracted on the battlefields of France during World War I. As a toddler, Bob moved to south Florida with his mother who married his stepfather Henry Zill. They built their home in Riviera Beach, across the street from what was then an alligator and ostrich farm, later becoming The Spanish Courts. Bob's mother died in 1928 and he and his stepfather continued living in the family homestead during his boyhood. After attending Northboro Junior High, Bob graduated in 1938 from Palm Beach High School where he played football. He then left for the University of Florida in Gainesville where he was active in student body politics, ROTC and won his athletic letter on the boxing team. After U.F. graduation in 1942 with a degree in business administration, Bob joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, became a pilot and spent three years in the European Theatre, flying troop carriers, leaving in 1945 as a Captain. Bob gave credit to an old friend, the late Elwyn Middleton, for suggesting what to do now that the war was over. The advice was to return to U.F. and attend law school, which he did, graduating in February of 1948. While in law school, he also ran a branch office in Gainesville of the Young-Mann Agency of Jacksonville, a fire and casualty insurance business. After law school, Bob returned to Riviera Beach and hung out his shingle in the old homestead on U.S. 1. He quickly became active in the community, serving as Town Clerk for the next two years. He was also a member of the Lions Club and the Riviera Beach Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president in the mid-fifties and on its board for more than twenty years. Perhaps his most enjoyable chore for the Chamber was his participation for several years as Santa Claus in its annual Christmas in Dixie parade which began in 1953. In August 1950 permission came to establish the Riviera Beach Bank (later named First Marine Bank & Trust). Bob was one of its founding directors. He also helped establish Cromwell Griffin Insurance Agency of Riviera Beach, First American Bank in North Palm Beach and Citizens Bank on Southern Boulevard. During these years he was also active in the Palm Beach County Bar Association, serving as its president in 1955. Also in 1955, Bob and a group of other business and professional men opened the north county's first savings and loan association, first named Riviera Beach Federal Savings and Loan Association, later changed to Community Federal. Bob served as either president or board chairman until 1998. He was the last surviving founder of this institution, which grew in those years from a little store front office to twenty offices, from Lake Worth to Fort Pierce. In the late seventies, Bob served as president of the Florida Savings and Loan League. In 1979 he withdrew from the active practice of law to devote his full time to Community Federal. Bob had traveled widely over most of the globe. One of his interesting trips was touring the Soviet Union in 1964 with 32 other Florida businessmen, under sponsorship of the State Department. No matter where he went though, he always dearly loved Palm Beach County with all it has to offer, and the Bahamas, maintaining he saw no reason why anyone would want to go north of the Salerno Inlet nor west of the turnpike. And all of his life he thoroughly loved the ocean and all water sports, particularly fishing, boating and scuba diving. He received his scuba diving certification in 1977 at the age of 59. As an alternative career, he often said he would have chosen to be a party boat captain or a commercial fisherman. Bob was a member of the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and University of Florida's Grand Guard. He was a leader in development of the county's north end and had great concern that we be able to maintain the beautiful aspects of our land which attract people to move here, while still making room for them. Bob will be sorely missed by his family, his former colleagues and many friends. Surviving Bob are his son, Henry Frederick Cromwell, daughter-in-law, Kathleen, grandson, Jason Frederick of Palm Beach Gardens; granddaughter, Michelle Cromwell-Kelly, husband, Vincent, great-granddaughter Ava of Jupiter; a cousin, Marcia Zill Brancolino of Palm Beach Gardens; and Bob's beloved companion of 25 years, Shirley Smith. The family will receive friends from 4 until 7 PM, Thursday, January 11, 2007 at Howard-Price Funeral Home, 754 U.S. Highway One, North Palm Beach. A memorial service in honor of Bob Cromwell will take place at Trinity United Methodist Church, 9625 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens on Friday, January 12 at 10 AM. A reception for family and friends will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute in the Mullet's memory to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407. To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries