Robert Vincent Larkin II

Robert V. “Bob” Larkin II took his last walk with his beloved wife, Yvonne, in the spring of 2019, before passing away peacefully in May 2019. Bob was 80 years old and resided in Florida at the time of his passing.

Bob’s journey began in upstate New York, where he was born shortly before World War II as the first child of Dr. Robert V. Larkin, M.D. and Virginia R. Larkin, R.N. Bob grew up in Elmira, N.Y., where he graduated from Elmira Free Academy. He then attended LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. before serving honorably in the United States Air Force including a deployment in Pakistan. Following his discharge from the USAF, Bob married his first wife Antoinette and began his long career in sales. Bob and “Toni” raised their son Robert V. Larkin III in Elmira and later in Buffalo.

Bob’s outgoing, convivial personality made sales work a natural fit for him. Over the decades Bob sold everything from stationery to fire engines. Like so many people, Bob faced his share of adversity. For example, he opened a stationery store on Water St. in Elmira the week Hurricane Agnes dumped 20 inches of rain in the Chemung River valley, sending eight feet of water into his store. He faced personal adversity when he and Toni divorced. Yet Bob never lost his sense of humor and his Irish charm, even when facing life’s hardships.

Bob found love a second time when he met Yvonne in Buffalo in the mid-1980's. Their connection was instant. Following a brief excursion on Bob’s sailboat, the Armagh, Bob and Yvonne became inseparable, engaged in a romance that was cheered and appreciated by everyone around them. Yvonne’s three children were especially grateful for his love of and devotion to their mother.

Bob had a need to be around people and be productive. After escaping the brutal Buffalo winters and officially “retiring” with Yvonne to Florida, Bob continued to work at local country clubs, including a tennis club where Yvonne was a regular. In these later years, Bob’s favorite mode of transportation was a golf cart, which he used not only to play golf (which he loved) but to visit with his and Yvonne’s many friends.

Bob enjoyed many activities, many of which he shared with Yvonne. He loved jazz and was actively involved in the jazz club at his retirement community. Bob and Yvonne enjoyed the Clearwater Jazz festival and took jazz-themed cruises together. Bob and Yvonne also shared a love of animals and had several pets together including their dogs Bambi, a cocker spaniel, and Bear, a labrador retriever. They made many friends together. But most of all they shared a deep love for each other, a special connection which endured to Bob’s last breath.

Bob is pre-deceased by his parents, sister Virginia, brother Patrick, and first wife Antoinette Larkin. He is survived by his wife Yvonne Larkin, son Robert V. Larkin III, brother Thomas Larkin (Marian), brother Michael Larkin (Diane), grandchild Cassidy Larkin, stepchildren Charles Louise, Justin Louise (Ronna), and Chandra Louise, and four stepgrandchildren.