It is with utmost sadness that I report the passing of Bob Gialdini. Bob was a great flier, builder, designer, and ambassador. He was routinely referred to as "The classiest guy in the hobby." And that he was.

This news came to me at a point when I have to leave to do something of import, so I do not have the time right now to write all that I need to and want to about Bob. I will do that later this evening.

Bob passed three days ago and his daughter, Genell has been trying to get in touch with me. She finally did that through the AMA.

In deepest sorrow for the loss of a great friend and hero.

Bob Hunt

Our old comrades never forgot him, as he appeared in the World Championships, in 1964 at Budapest, Hungary.
They referred him often as a great idol.

https://fortepan.download/_photo/1600/fortepan_118375.jpg

Sad news indeed.

I first met Bob at the "Hill Top Cafe" in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin back in the early 80's. I'd moved there a few years previous from Alaska and had quickly found the "Cafe" as it was unique in the area. Bob kept his sail boat there and spent as much time as he could during the summer months Sailing on Lake Michigan.

A friend, Bobby Braun, who worked where Bob kept his boat, introduced me to him one morning as I was having breakfast. We soon found we shared more than a good meal. We both loved boats, me, a stink boat, and him, a Rag Bagger. Truth be told, I'd spent some of my early years crewing on a racing sail boat off the coast of California,  so, I wasn't too offensive for a true sailor to be around. We often met there in the Hill Top Cafe. About half way through that summer, conversation touched on Model Airplanes. Not just any models mind you, but CL Models. I think I might have been the only person who even knew what that was for miles around.

I enjoyed so many really great stories about his time in the sport. A year later, I bought my first model kit since the early 60's, a Top Flight Tutor, with  a used Red Head .35 in Milwaukee. I mention this as I stopped at the shop Bob suggested, on my way home from joining the club he belonged to, The "Milwaukee Circle masters." It was the only CL club in the state, but worth the almost 2 hour drive.

Bob was often at the once a month meetings, showing up at some contests, and was always the Class act he'd always been.

After I moved out west to Utah, I would occasionally see him and a few other 'Masters at VSC. Time, distance, and accidents have reduced the ability to stay in touch. Why does that happen?

I'm saddened to know that he has passed on. He'll be missed by many, but I'm sure he's with a lot of great folks who've gotten there earlier. What a contest they must be able to have.

I too am saddened at the passing of Bob Gialdini. My wife and I were two of the judges when Bob was in charge of the stunt at the two years when the nationals was at Lake Charles, LA (I forgot the years in the '70s). Also, Bob was in charge of the FAI qualifications at Atlanta, GA, and Dayton, OH where I helped judge. He was an inspiration to all the flyers and us judges. I learned a lot from him.

Roger

I only met MR. Gialdini once when Cox staged the infamous Me109 stunt challenge at the ‘74? Nats. I still have a photo of me with him. We were both looking quite sweaty there in Lake Charles. But a good time was had by all. The culmination was all the survivaling models were started and flown at the same time which was fine until one guy, who will remain nameless, decided to flip inverted and created a plastic thunderstorm. (Much to my dismay, I wanted these guys to take the models home to show lesser folk) there wasn’t much left but crumbs.😩

Great story Bob.  Also a great tribute to Mr. Gialdini and how he fit into the stunt scene of 1961. I was just starting to get my chops then and my folks took us to Willow Grove for a day. I wanted to see everything so the memories are a blur now but the work hanger stands out. Guys busy with their planes and some of them sleeping under the benches.  Just a one day visit was good enough to cement (Ambroid?) my passion for building and flying that continues to this day.   TS

I met Bob at VSC a number of years ago. Very nice guy. I used to hang out with Don Shultz and Bob was his hero. Don talked about Bob a lot.

He is missed.

I got to meet Bob at VSC along with many other men of talent. I found out Bob had worked for Harley and since I have been a Harley rider since I was 14, we had a good time. I am sure he will be missed by many as he was a fine gentleman.

Here is a nice interview of Bob Gialdini .     

Starting at the 3:50 mark.

I spent an enjoyable evening many years ago at the VSC with Bob Gialdini and Mario Rondenelli. I wish that I had a tape recording of the evening. I had given Bob a plaque that year that had a Forster .35 mounted on it with the correct prop and fuel tank. The tank was cut down to one ounce so it would fit on the metal motor mount behind the engine.

Bob Gialdini started the pretty airplane /matching clothes movement. The story I was told was that  After a AMA nationals in which He received no appearance points for his airplane, Bob studied how to win the Nationals. The next year at the nats he had an airplane which was beautiful, and matching clothing for made by Bob's wife for herself, Bob, and Mario Rondinelli.  Her outfit was a matching top, and white short shorts. Bob and Mario had white pants and a matching top.

Bob's airplane had a Forster .35 for power. He and Mario had practiced starting the Forster .35 to where Mario would fuel it up with a rubber bulb, and touch the fuel tank vent to prime the engine at the end of the fueling process, and connect the battery. Bob would hold up his hand to signal to the navy judges for engine start, and would bring his hand down rapidly to hit the prop and start the engine.
The engine would start on one flip, and Bob would immediately stand up and walk out to the handle.  He won that Nats. Bob had a good looking wife, and the joke was that the Navy judges judged Her instead if the flight!

Bob's nickname (which He hated) was " Mister Clean" .

Bob Gialdini was a nice Guy, a fabulous modeler, and a class act.

Farewell, Bob, you were well liked and highly appreciated.

I met Bob at VSC a number of years ago. Very nice guy. I used to hang out with Don Shultz and Bob was his hero. Don talked about Bob a lot.

He is missed.

Ah, yes, Randy.  Bob and Schultzy!  Strange bedfellows for sure but two of a kind when it came to goodness of heart.  Glad you put the two names together.

Ted

Here is a photo of Bob's  ECLIPSE.

Imagine what it was like being at the 64 Dallas NATS watching Gialdini fly his Stingray and Scarinzi flying his third place finishing Blue Angel.
 The closest I experienced  to that was watching Dave Gierke with his NOVI and Jim Kostecky with his Formula S at the 68 Olathe, Kansas NATS. Super cool ships.

Bob's Olympic Mk VI article was published in 1963, same year that my Dad and two older brothers started to fly in competition and I learned to fly.  My oldest brother Arch, all 14 years old of him, wrote a letter to Mr. Gialdini c/o American Modeler Magazine.  To my surprise my brother soon got a letter back, thanking him for writing then answering all his questions.  Arch was compelled to redesign his then active build into a facsimile Olympic.  After thrashing around a couple names (Mini Olympic, Lil Olympic, Olympic Jr, etc.) Arch settled on "Lympette" shown below.  You do not have to squint too hard to see that the wing & stab are out of the Ambroid Stuka Stunt Arch was then building! A few more letters scored a couple pix of Bob's new (in painting) design that was the Sting Ray with which Bob won the NATs in 1964.  I still routinely read the Olympic and Sting Ray articles, not just for the insights into his design choices, but, at a deeper level, to witness the level of commitment necessary to reach the top.  Finally got to meet Bob in person at the 1965 NATs, where his total performance with the Eclipse was the single most dominant win I have ever seen, before or since; like Secretariat winning the Belmont by 31 lengths.

However, I remain in awe of the gentleman who at the top of his game, took the time the respond to my big brother, a 14 year old kid from nowhere.  God Speed Bob.

Hi Denny,

What a wonderful story about a wonderful modeler and friend.  Shareen and I could both feel the Gialdini empath seeping out of most every word.  "Yup, that's the Bob we knew and cared deeply for".

Thanx my friend.

Ted Fancher

p.s. Your post got me digging through my fairly complete collection of stunt articles from my "early" years.  Had to read it again...and it takes a while to do so!  10 full pages in the 1963 American Modeler Annual; close to dwarfing my "longest ever two part article on how to build a profile Imitation duo!" (per Billy W!)   Thought about scanning and posting it but not sure I know exactly how to go about doing so.

Bob and I spoke on the phone once or twice a year ever since we reunited at the 2010 VSC. We had become friends during the 73 Oshkosh Nats and for many years he stayed with Nancy and I in Miami during his trips to the Bahamas. Five or six months ago Bob left a cryptic message on my recorder and stated that he had been moved from his house and transferred to some nursing home. He was upset because his message added that he could no longer call out and I would be unable to reach him. He rehashed a few of our memories and said goodbye. I tried calling that number for months and finally gave up.
He lived a good life, did everything with style, class and dignity. It is an honor that he considered me to be his friend.