Robert John Ammon's Obituary
ROBERT JOHN AMMON
October 5, 1936 – April 9, 2024
Robert “Bob” John Ammon, a beloved father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on April 9, 2024, in Palm Coast, FL. Bob was born on October 5, 1936, in Akron, OH to Erwin Ammon and renowned professional golfer and pioneer of women in radio, luminary Gladys Ammon.
Robert was preceded in passing by his parents and his eldest daughter Allison.
He’s survived by his spouse Bonnie, brother Richard and nephew Matthew, daughters Ashley and Aimée and her spouse, stepdaughter Judith, grandchildren Sydney, Mason, Jack and Kayla, Mason’s spouse Lindsay and their newborn, Bob and Bonnie’s first great-grandchild, Charlotte Jade.
A Veteran, at the age of 24 Robert was named “Outstanding Trainee” in his unit of over 200 troops in Ft. Knox, TN leading to specialized sharpshooter training and the honorable appointment by the Governor of Ohio to 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry in the Army National Guard. Bob completed his Candidate Course in Ft. Hayes, OH and remained a member of the Army Reserve until 1966 after being honorably discharged in 1964 as Sergeant E-5 and Squad Leader of Co. A 3/Bn 145th Infantry.
Bob considers his final sculpture, ALICE to be one of his finest achievements. ALICE, based on Lewis Carroll’s timeless Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, resides at the Public Library in Palm Coast as part of the Flagler County Cultural Council’s “Turtle Trail,” a Public Community Art Project that uses the indigenous Loggerhead as the model for each unique work. Bob was thrilled that the FC-3 “Turtle Trail” is being memorialized in a book and accompanying documentary, allowing its impact to spread beyond locals and visitors!
As well as a nod to a family favorite classic book, ALICE is a deeply personal homage to his eldest daughter Allison, who abruptly passed away on January 1, 2019; he incorporates her image as ALICE. Bob also added intricate dimensionality to the sculpture such as flowers and bees, and cleverly hid 11 books within ALICE’s multitude of Wonderland imagery to encourage viewers to interact with her, hoping with each visit they’ll experience something new; as Carroll writes, forever becoming “Curiouser and Curiouser.”
Bob spent over 40 years in the Advertising Industry in Manhattan and Detroit, primarily as an Art Director and Executive Producer. He collaborated with high profile talent on top drawer commercials that often premiered during the Super Bowl, ranging from ads for automotive companies to consumer goods. A sampling of ads he produced feature Ford to Ferrari, Pontiac to Firestone, and Smuckers to Seagrams. Bob’s accolades include 6 CLIO awards, 8 Mobius awards, and 10 awards from International Film Festivals.
While at JWT, Robert served as the agency’s Producer for the unprecedented, incredibly ambitious, Ford Motor Company’s infamous GLOBAL ANTHEM that simultaneously aired on November 1, 1999 across the world, reaching an estimated 1 billion people (80% of the world’s viewing population).
The breathtaking imagery that Bob and his team captured for the GLOBAL ANTHEM is enhanced by the score, over which soprano Charlotte Church sings “Just Wave Hello.” The GLOBAL ANTHEM is an apropos feather in the cap of both Robert’s advertising career and his pursuit and desire to live in a peaceful united world.
Though an Episcopalian who converted to Judaism, the ever-inquisitive Bob primarily considered himself non-denominational yet strongly spiritual, always counting his blessings, knowing how fortunate he was to travel the world and earn a living doing what he loved.
It was during Bob’s brief pursuit of a medical career that he serendipitously met and shortly thereafter, in 1966, married his “Bonnie Jeanne”. They moved to Michigan, then to Haworth, NJ, ultimately returning to West Bloomfield, MI decades later due to a lifechanging career promotion. Together, Bob and Bonnie proudly raised 3 beautiful daughters and inadvertently a handful of their children’s friends, altruistically always opening their door and their hearts to those in need.
Bob began to draw as soon as he could hold a pencil, and to paint at Garfield High, an avenue he fervently pursued while studying at Akron University (B.A. degrees in Art and Business) and while at Western Reserve University. As youths, he and his brother Dick created short films and notably, perhaps Bob’s first foray in sculpture, a large paper mâché dinosaur that they mischievously, strategically placed at the roadside to both startle and delight passerbys; a thankfully harmless antic that gained them a feature in the Akron Beacon.
Although his formal training was in oils, Bob gravitated to the delicacy of watercolors, and was skilled in the ancient, elegant artform of Calligraphy, which led to Bob often being endearingly harangued into addressing envelopes for a multitude of the most special occasions of many.
His subject matter was as vast as his skills as an artist and a teacher in multiple mediums. Custom work ranged from pet portraits to residences, with some collectors going on to use their Robert Ammon original to create stationery and holiday cards.
Bob was a fierce advocate and activist for the importance of culture and the arts, democracy and justice and the preservation of nature. A well-rounded man, entertaining storyteller and jokester, Bob was never shy to voice his opinions, leading to interviews on Flagler Live and politically inspired artworks and Op-Ed cartoons, one of which was published in The Daytona-Beach News Journal.
Bob served as both past President and former Director of Shows and Exhibitions for the (sadly now shuttered) Flagler County Art League, which, like many cultural institutions, lacked enough private support and crucial state and local government funding. At FCAL, Bob taught beginning to intermediate acrylics, which gave him immense satisfaction as did his intermittent Calligraphy Workshops and Lectures. He also taught at Michael’s art store sponsored by Grumbacher. Bob is also the recipient of countless regional art prizes including several “Best in Show” awards.
Bob began to create more sculptures using primarily found, organic material such as Himalayan bamboo, and murals of all scales commissioned by public entities, businesses (including three local pizzerias and a Manhattan bank), and for individuals. In 2018, Mainstreet DeLand held an Artist’s Open Call after which 4 finalists submitted statements and visual proposals; Bob was chosen to memorialize local treasure Rufus Pinckney of “Pinckney’s Deluxe Shoeshine”, a legacy work for Deland’s “Historic Mural Walk”.
Bonnie often joined Bob on his travels where together they explored a plethora of cultures and monuments affording them a rare perspective of our world’s splendor. During a memorable trek across Africa, they took in its vast beauty amid the noble elephants, zebras, giraffes, and lions from both the ground and the rare vantage point of a hot air balloon. Bob and Bonnie also adventurously zip-lined through the jungles of Costa Rica, and joyously wandered the streets of Portugal, Istanbul and beyond.
They were equally happy to dine in both the finest of restaurants and from the funkiest of beachside shacks. Closer to home, Bob and Bonnie particularly treasure times spent, since the 1980’s, with family and friends at “The End,” Montauk, New York.
Ever fascinated with the mysteries of our universe, regardless of the hour, Bob often insisted his family join him in the yard to gaze at the stars; to this day they smile, despite the inattentiveness his daydreaming nature imposed on their ‘day to day’. All that knew Bob accepted his true nature, openly referring to Bob as ‘a man who gleefully lives life in his own galaxy’.
Beyond the arts and culture, Bob enjoyed gardening, spicy food and conversation, playing cards, birdwatching, cooking his famous Eggs Benedict (a delicacy enjoyed by all despite his legendary burning of the English muffins and bread in general), and watching documentaries and classic films. Bob especially treasured the ritual Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune evenings, playfully competing along as he held Bonnie’s hand, his wife of over 58 years, her “Buster” and the love of his life.
Bob’s Official Legacy Page, RobertAmmonStudios.com, is a work in progress to feature Bob’s oeuvre of artwork and excerpts from his yet to be published book, I Can’t Wait For This To Be Funny, wherein Bob recants anecdotes of celebrity and colleague interactions and unique tales while on set, that range from humorous to unfathomable as he navigated the advertising industry’s true Madmen era and beyond.
Please continue to contribute your reminiscences and to visit the site as we will continue to also add photos, videos, passages from the many gracious cards, social media posts and messages his family is blessed and grateful to receive as we all grieve our overwhelming loss.
Bob chose cremation, with Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service handling all arrangements with the utmost respect and care. He didn’t wish for a ceremony as he has left his mark, preferring donations to an arts or historical organization, a Humane Society or any worthy charity to continue what our beloved, admired Robert Ammon accomplished; to install the values of the indispensability of family, culture, innovation, nature, kindness, light and love.
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