Robert A Guerin
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GUERIN, ROBERT A. JR. born in New Orleans, LA on July 28th, 1943 passed away on February 27, 2022 at age 78 from Myelomalacia (Myelomalacia - Wikipedia). Born to the late Robert Austin and Audrey Teevan Guerin, the family relocated to Chicago where he attended Brother Rice High School and then went to Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.
This was a man built for speed on land and on sea. After an awful hitch-hiking decision that broke his back in a terrible car accident in the Louisiana bayou and the love of his life leaving for the convent (he eventually got her back), he joined Brinks Armored Car Service as a salesman.
Three generations of law enforcement led him to this private security industry, and his uncanny and politically incorrect Irish wit and natural business acumen propelled his success. He left his beloved Fort Lauderdale and moved to Atlanta to become president of Wells Fargo Armored Car Service. Upon leading Wells Fargo into the number one cash hauler, he left cash for trash and joined Waste Management.
This Chicago South-sider soon realized he wanted to get back to Fort Lauderdale and proceeded to camp out in Wayne Huizenga's lobby for two days. Wayne had recently completed the acquisition of a little-known movie video company Blockbuster Video. Bob left that lobby on Las Olas Boulevard as the VP of National Development and ignited a company with speed and determination that would make Steve McQueen envious (whom he loved and ultimately "forced" him to buy a Ford Mustang Bullitt - for some people that will make sense).
After selling Blockbuster to Viacom, he took his close-cropped Marine style haircut to Marathon, Florida and grew a goatee and ponytail only to be called back to action a year later when Wayne acquired Republic Industries. Bob always wanted to create a private security company, and Wayne made that possible when he came a knocking with Republic. In 18 short months, he sacrificed his fragile back to a Learjet 35, and they went from nothing to building a $600 million company that very few people realize funded what we all know as AutoNation.
Upon the sale of Republic Security, he finally retired for good and focused his attention on his grandchildren. As a true American patriot that exemplified the values of our Founding Fathers, he wrote a book called Letters to My Grandchildren. He was a gifted teacher, mentor, leader and friend. While many people knew him as a tough guy, those that knew him best would say he had a heart of gold and gave back more than he ever received. "Happy Bob" was the name bestowed upon him by his four grandchildren, but his call sign "Redline" accurately described a life lived at full throttle.
He is survived by his wife Mary of 52 years, children Sean (Jenny) and Kelly Lower (Stephen), 4 grandchildren, Riley, Shannon and Delaney Guerin and Austin Lower.
He is pre-deceased by his youngest brother Russell (Suzanne) and is survived by his many amazing siblings Rick (Eileen), Roger (Jean), Rudy (Denise), Ray (Debbie), and Rita Guerin McConn (Bob) and numerous (too many to count) nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the Guerin Clan will accept jokes, memories, Irish limericks and donations to a plethora of organizations Bob was a big supporter of including but not limited to Spring Hill College, HANDY, Florida Girls Giving Back and ALS (via NSU and Dr. Locatelli). He would also just be happy to know that a donation was made in his honor to a charity of your choice!