OBITUARIES Bob Kane, 82, writer for Life, Parade, public relations specialist
OBITUARIES Bob Kane, 82, writer for Life, Parade, public relations specialist
BYLINE: Suzanne Gregory, Staff
DATE: 05-29-1999
PUBLICATION: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
EDITION: Home
SECTION: Local News
PAGE: G7
A writer for Life and Parade magazines and owner of a public relations firm,
Bob Kane, 82, of Decatur always had a story to tell. It could be a humorous
tale about his ordering from the children's menu at Wendy's restaurant, about
his grandsons or a feature on the curve ball. And Mr. Kane, a gregarious man
who called into the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Vent every other week
and had six items published, knew how to tell it and write it.
"He liked telling historical stories," said his son Cameron Kane of Marietta.
"He seemed to be the guy who was at every major historical event. Not in the
limelight; he was in the wings."
"He was interested in everyone. He would come home from IHOP and know all
about the waitress," said daughter-in-law Ginger Kane of Marietta. "He was
absolutely nosy about people. But he did it in a way that people didn't
mind," she added.
The memorial service for Robert Francis Kane is 1 p.m. today at A.S. Turner &
Sons. The body was cremated. He died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at
his residence.
A 1938 graduate of Kansas State University, Mr. Kane was drafted into the
U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He gained his experience in public
relations from doing the publicity for "Shot from the Sky, " an exhibition
featuring captured German and Japanese military equipment, used to sell war
bonds.
While at Life magazine, Mr. Kane did investigative reporting, toured the
country with Life photographers and wrote captions for photos and short
articles. He left to write for Parade when it was founded, said his son.
A 30-year commuter on the Long Island Railroad, Mr. Kane spent 12 years as
director of public relations for F.H. McGraw Construction Co. A member of the
National Association of Railroad Passengers and its Georgia association, Mr.
Kane threw a retirement party on the train for a 50-year railroad attendant.
The New York Times wrote a story on it, said Alan Yorker of Decatur,
president of the Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers.
Mr. Kane was a member of the Overseas Press Club. And he created the Golden
Mike Award, an award for the best football announcer of the year, for the New
York Touchdown Club.
"He was always looking for publicity. His mind was always looking on how can
I get publicity for this person or that person," said his wife, Aileen Kane.
Retiring from Robert Francis Kane and Associates public relations firm in New
York in 1988, Mr. Kane moved to Decatur. He wrote articles for area
newspapers, the KSU alumni magazine and other publications. He was a member
of the Aviation Writers Association, the Atlanta Press Club and the WWII
Roundtable.
Survivors other than his wife and son include another son, Philip Kane of
Decatur; two sisters, Marian Nering of El Paso, Texas, and Florence Richey of
Birmingham; a brother, Richard Kane of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; and two grandsons.
ILLUSTRATIONS/PHOTOS: Bob Kane
TYPE: Obituary
© Copyright 1999,The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, All rights reserved.
Submitted by Sandie Floyd Kane