Robert Balog's Obituary
A resident of Palm Harbor, born in 1951, in Flushing, Queens County, New York City. Attended New York City public schools, P.S. 120 1956-63 where he developed many long term friendships which lasted to the present because of his great sense of humor and his caring generous attitude towards others. He played the trumpet in his grade school and junior high school band. He graduated John Bowne High School in Flushing, N.Y. in1969.
In addition to playing baseball and softball, he played roller hockey as a teenager. His childhood friends affectionately nicknamed him ‘BONES’ because he was skinnier than his friends and classmates.
He was an avid New York Yankees fan who went to Yankee Stadium often to see Yankee greats such as Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford.
He started playing golf when he was a teenager continuing to play it throughout his entire life. He was an excellent golfer consistently scoring in the 70s. He loved Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass having been a trumpet player in school bands.
In the mid 1980s, he moved from Flushing, N.Y. to the Tampa metro area after his parents, George and Loretta Balog had moved to the area.
He worked in the computer business for many years. In his later years, he worked as a shuttle bus driver. He suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on June 11, 2026.
Robert was so caring and generous that he always sent a get well card to a friend who he learned was ill. He would often send gifts to his friends and their children even if it was not their birthday or not the Christmas season to show his love and kindness to others.
Robert never married or had any children, but he was so beloved by his childhood friends who had maintained a regular friendship with him for 70 years that they were devastated when they learned of his passing. He was so admired and loved by his many childhood friends that they decided to contribute to pay for his funeral costs.
One of his childhood friends expressed it best about Robert when he said. “ Bones never had a mean bone in his body. If there were more people like him in this world, it would be a far better place to live in.” Robert will be sadly missed by all those who had the pleasure of his friendship
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