He received a BA from MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) and a MA from IUPUI (Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis); earned the CAE and CFRE designations for association management and resource development during a 40 year career in non-profit and volunteer management; served in the US Peace Corps (Korea) in TB Control; and had some success in creative writing, including selling one of his film scripts, released as “Illusions of Cyn”, and a cancer survivor’s blog, “The Great Cancer Adventure”. He ran, unsuccessfully, as an Old Fashioned New Deal Democrat for his party’s nomination for the US Second Congressional District (MO), coming in sixth in a five-way race. He was shown a spiritual path and remained steadfast until his death, working with scores of others, for more than three decades.

He is survived by a wonderful wife, aka The Champ, Betty Ann O’Dea; a daughter, Elizabeth Hazel, (husband, Sam Conte); a son, Peter Hazel (wife, Nicole); a granddaughter (Ramona Conte); siblings Leesha Hazel, Ray Hazel, Michael Hazel, and Terry Philips (husband Ray); nieces and nephews Shauna Hughes (husband John), Katie Hazel, Andrea Hazel and Jonathan Hazel; step nieces and nephews Alexander, Andrew, Adam, Aliah and Autumn George; and great nieces Abigail George, Angelina George, and Ava Hazel. At a later date, the immediate family will hold a private, memorial service.

If you would like to make a contribution in his name the family would like donations sent to Kiva.org, an organization that Robert supported throughout the years.