The Honorable Robert L. 'Bob' Bayt

The Honorable Robert L. “Bob” Bayt, 76, of Punta Gorda,Florida, formerly of Indianapolis, died May 16, 2017. He was born inIndianapolis, October 23, 1940, the son of Indianapolis Mayor Phillip and MaryBayt. He attended Butler University and Indiana University School of Law.

Bob grew up in the Slovenian neighborhood of “Haughville” onHaugh Street on Indy’s near west-side. He enjoyed hunting, fishing andtrapping in the woods nearby. He attended Holy Trinity Catholic Church growingup, and then attended Cathedral High School where he lettered in basketball andgolf, graduating in 1958.

His zest for adventure led him to join the Marine Corpsafter High School where he was recognized as a Rifle Expert and served as aTank Mechanic in the Third Tank Battalion. He traveled to Okinawa, Japanand the Philippines during his tour.

Even though he was adventurous, Bob always had a love oflearning and returned to study at Butler University, where he graduated with adegree in Journalism. His youthful idealism made him want to serve others,and he heeded President John F. Kennedy’s call to “…ask what you can do foryour Country.” He joined the Peace Corps in 1965, and served in Copan,Honduras for two years.

Thereafter, his love for learning again led him back toschool, and he graduated from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis.He would entertain his sons with stories of his own “Paper Chase,” alwaysstressing the value of hard work and perseverance.

It was in law school that he met his wife of 36 years,Kathleen, with whom he made a cherished home on Eagle Creek golf course thatwas always the site of family gatherings and his famous 4th of July feasts andfirework displays. They raised their two boys, Robert and David, who wenton to become a NASA engineer and an attorney, respectively.

After law school, Bob became a Public Defender, then workedin private practice, and was eventually nominated to the United StatesBankruptcy Court, where he served for 23 years, 9 of which he served as ChiefJudge. He was very proud of the work he and his staff did in the formativeyears of the Court, laying the groundwork for many of today’s decisions. With their dedication and utmost professionalism, he always felt a part ofsomething larger than himself.

After retiring from the Court in 2000, he and Kathy moved toPunta Gorda, Florida and pursued their love of traveling, visiting Spain,boating to the Keys, and completing their grand adventure by navigating theirvessel from Punta Gorda to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. All the while Bobwas supporting Kathy’s long struggle with cancer until her passing in2005. After a difficult time, he met Kimberly Morgan who renewed his loveof life, and they enjoyed many years of dancing and traveling to the Bahamas,Costa Rica, Italy, Turks and Caicos, and their pinnacle trip through Chile andArgentina. He continued to play golf, hunt and fish into his final yearswith his dear friends, Mike, Ray, John and Steve. He was so proud of hisfamily and the legacy of his grandchildren, whether it be his Eagle Scoutgrandson, Evan, the arts and dancing of his granddaughters, Victoria and Sofia,or the budding sports enthusiast, young Cass.

He is pre-deceased by his wife, Kathy and brother Phillip“Buddy” Bayt. He leaves behind his sons, Robert L. Bayt, Jr. and David J. Bayt,his long-time companion Kimberly Morgan, daughters-in-law, Heather and KatieBayt, grandchildren, Evan, Victoria, Sofia and Cass, sisters-in-law PhyllisBayt, Jennifer Cline, Diane Masaya and Donna Wilson, brother-in-law Jay Wilson,and many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

Funeral serviceswill be held at 10 AM on Saturday, May 20th at Flanner & Buchanan-Zionsville, 105 W. Pine Street, with calling there from 4-8 PM on Friday, May19th. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Condolences may be sharedonline at www.flannerbuchanan.com.