Robert Simpson Baartz   28 August 1937 – 29 February 2012

Aussie success story, Robert ‘Bob’ Baartz;  the man who invented tennis racquet logo endorsement and went on to become a legendry international airline  executive, died in the UK after a heart attack, on 29 February 2012, aged 74. His funeral will be held at Dorking Cemetery, Dorking, UK, on Friday 9 March.

Born in Dalby, Queensland, Bob moved to Newcastle with his parents as a child, where he excelled in sport, playing First Grade Cricket and Soccer. He maintained his passion for sport and went on to be a long term Member of Lords and great mate of former Australian Test Captain, Richie Benaud. Bob mentored his younger brother Ray in cricket and soccer. He was dismayed when Ray opted to give up cricket to concentrate on soccer – until Ray starred as a Socceroo – a feat Bob greatly admired!

Having left school at 15, Bob made up for a lack of formal qualifications by being an exceptionally fast learner and incredibly hard worker, after landing a job with Spalding. Long before anyone else thought about sports sponsorship, Bob had a big S painted on the strings of a racket for a Wimbledon tournament, which changed professional sport for ever.

Afflicted with an insatiable travel bug, Bob landed a job with BOAC, now British Airways before becoming a hugely popular and successful executive with British Caledonian Airways, Europe’s largest independent airline. Bob had the uncanny ability to fit into any ethnic situation anywhere - any time. He could extract every last cent of revenue out of countless GSA and interline mates worldwide. Prior to BCAL merging with BA, Bob was head-hunted, by another Aussie airline legend, Paul Glaser, to build the UK/European markets for Continental Airlines – a task he relished. Bob showed great generosity of spirit, by selflessly identifying fantastic professional opportunities for mates.

A devoted family man, Bob timed his schedule, to get on a flight home to his wife Marian and daughters, for weekends. He made countless visits to his family in Newcastle. Bob is survived by Marian, daughters Michele and Natalie, a grand-child and the Baartz Clan in Newcastle.