Obituary: Robert 'Bob' Oste

Robert “Bob” Oste, 60, died Sept. 19. He was a live-aboard sailor for many years in Longboat Key, Sarasota and Bradenton Beach.

Born Dec. 22, 1948, in Hartford, Conn., her served in the U.S. Coast Guard in New England before moving to Florida.

As proprietor of Green Street’s Waterfront Restaurant, in Indian Rocks Beach, Mr. Oste’s love for being on the water led him to sail the Florida coast, and eventually to Anna Maria Island, where he discovered a community that he soon considered home.

Mr. Oste had a passion for classic food and wine and worked at local dining establishments, including the Bridgetender Inn and Dockside Bar, Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, Turtle’s on Holmes Beach, The Mutiny Inn, The Chart House on Longboat Key and O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill at Marina Jack. He regularly amused co-workers with his off-key sense of humor and singing of “customized” cerveza songs.

In recent years, Mr. Oste worked in boat and home repairs, restorations and remodels. He became known for his love of shopping in any good hardware store.

Mr. Oste is remembered as a loyal and caring friend who was always willing to help. His friends will remember his “just checking in” phone calls.

Mr. Oste is survived by his aunt, Jeanne Ostapkevich, of Cromwell, Conn.; brother-in-law, Andrew Kasper, of New Jersey; nephew, Christian Kasper, of Massachusetts; niece, Emily Kasper, of Washington, D.C.; and his cat of 19 years, Stink(er).

An interment and memorial service will be held at 2:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg.