Robert Huntley

Captain Bob passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec 2, 2021 after a brief illness. He was 68 years old. Bob was born on July 4 1953 in Durham NC and raised in Winston-Salem where both his parents practiced medicine. In his youth he was fortunate to attend Camp Morehead on the North Carolina coast where he developed his life-long love of the ocean. He excelled in sailing and water sports. These skills would eventually transition into his career.

After attending R.J. Reynolds high school, he earned a BA in history and French from Washington and Lee University where he graduated in 1975.  During his time there he spent a semester abroad in France where he began learning to speak French fluently and absorbed much of the French culture including a love of French cooking.

After graduation he melded his French and sailing sills and got a job with the French resort, Club Mediterranee. He worked at clubs all over the Caribbean and Mexico, teaching sailing and scuba diving, while forming lasting friendships.

Following many happy years with Club Med, he decided to switch tracks and move back to the states. He settled in

Key Largo, Fl, and began the second phase of his working life. He obtained his Captains license and began fishing charters primarily out of the Ocean Reef Club.

When Cpt Bob was at the helm he combined his professional and safety conscious manner with his warm witty personality.

His clients were always in the most capable of hands and customer satisfaction was a priority, meaning most of the time a catch was guaranteed. He pursued this for many years until his recent retirement. During his retirement he looked forward to free diving for lobsters every August.

When Cpt Bob walked into a room you knew it. His booming presence was felt by all and he possessed strong opinions: especially for those who were careless in protecting the fragile Florida everglades and great coral reefs of the world. However, underneath Cpt. Bob’s crusty exterior was a soft heart and a ready hand.

Bob had many life-long friendships with his fishing, boating and scuba buddies. Many of those friends were “old salts” like Bob.  He was a voracious reader and consumer of all world news with an encyclopedic memory of facts. He also appreciated the affection of cats with their independent spirits—especially his last cat Possum whom he loved to spoil with extra kibble and treats.

Bob will be sorely missed by his family and surviving friends and he leaves much love in his giant wake. Bon Voyage Cpt Bob . . .

He was preceded in death by his parents Benjamin F. Huntley and Carolyn Coker Huntley. He is survived by his sisters Margaret Huntley Harrison and Josephine Huntley Kenney both of Clemmons, NC, as well as nephews (Margaret’s sons) Ben Moser(Stephanie) of Columbus, Ga., Rob Moser(Mauri) of Greeley, CO, Will Harrison (Rachel) of Charlotte NC as well as Joy’s grown children niece Meg Kenney of Raleigh NC and nephew Matthew Kenney of Charlotte, NC and their father Bill Kenney of Charlotte.  He is also survived by grand-nephews Jack Moser, Jaedon Moser, Gabe Moser, JJ Moser and grand-nieces Naomi Moser and Kymani Moser.

A private celebration of his life will be held at a later date with close family and friends in Key Largo Fl.