Robert Ellis Vrooman

1948 ~ 2019

Robert Ellis Vrooman, 71, passed away unexpectedly on September 4, 2019 from what appears to be a pulmonary embolism as a result of a knee surgery which occurred a few weeks before. Rob's knee injury happened while doing what he loved most - playing pickleball in Florida.

Rob was a man of passions. In his young adulthood his love for skiing took him from his home state of New York to Utah so he could pursue bigger mountains and better powder. He would give tips and tricks to anyone who would listen, even inventing tools and creating videos to improve skiing. Rob was always finding people who would play in a band with him and spent many hours practicing and correcting the songs that he'd play by ear. Later in life his love for Pickleball took him to Florida so he could leave behind the snow he no longer loved. Again he would introduce this sport to anyone and everyone he could and give advice to all who would listen.

One of Rob's biggest accomplishments was building the Sandy, Utah home where his four children were raised. He wasn't afraid to do things in unconventional ways so this unique house is covered with greenhouses which collect the heat of the sun. Rob was using solar power long before people were concerned about energy and climate change.

Anyone who knew Rob will remember his wit. He had a knack for puns and could get almost any stranger to smile at one of his remarks, if his clever words didn't leave them stumped!

Rob was preceded in death by his parents Rose Hortense Vrooman (1908-2006) and Morrell Vrooman Jr. (1912-1988) and two grandsons Luke Fitzgerald (2011) and Dylan Vrooman (2014-2015). Rob is survived by his wife, Tetyana Semenonva and step-daughter Yuna and children from his first marriage to Lois Wood Banks, Mike (Vicky), Scott, Kevin (Magen), and Shelley (Trevor) Fitzgerald. Rob leaves behind 6 grandchildren, Emily, Holly, Jeremy, Clara, Lucy, and Max.

Graveside services will be held in his honor at 2:30 pm on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) Sandy, Utah.


Guestbook/Condolences

To whom it may concern,

Firstly our condolences for your loss of Robert, never easy losing loved ones.

I will try to be short but live at Kariri Beach hotel, Cumbuco, near Forteleza in NE Brazil. If you kite you should come and try here :)

Robert has a small apartment here below us (legally no matricula/deed but it was his and I am sure he had private contract in place). Saying this even if ownership by private sale exists be aware we may all lose our apartments here to the Local Devcelopment Bank who was never paid by the developer. I pray and hold out hope the 35 or so Apartment owners fighting for their matricula/Deeds will win through but its not guaranteed and has dragged on now for years with the Bank just ratching up more and more interest. So it's a long shot if we can win.

Needless to say we are still all expected to pay Condo fees and IPTU (Government taxes) and these must be mounting on Roberts apartment.

I am writing as would like to offer to rent the apartment for you and we can use the income to start paying Condo Fees but more importantly to sort out the apartment as it has not been accessed in years and their is a leak causing damage to communal parts and the balcony is about to come apart everywhere and dangerous to children playing at the pool.

So I am reaching out to see if there is someone who can act on behalf of Robert and allow me to try and sell the unit or at worst get a letter to say we can rent the apartment on Roberts dependants behalf.

Looking forward to hearing back.
Kindest regards
Shaune
+447462613400 (Whatsapp)
+551956005548 (Phone)


- Shaune Malcolm Cooke