Neighbors: Bob Zahn

It’s no surprise that Anchorage resident Bob Zahn now lives where he and his family once vacationed. Zahn is a man from humble beginnings and has always loved the outdoors.

“I think I was 10 or 12 when I had my first job. I was weeding onions in an onion patch on a celery farm. They had all sorts of fruits and veggies and they would hire young kids to do the weeding in the summer after school was out.”

In 1944, just before the completion of his senior year of high school in Fort Wayne, Ind., Zahn enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was called to duty six months before he received his diploma. After two years in the Marine Corps, having served time overseas, Zahn moved back home to Indiana.

In 1946, Zahn took a job with Home Telephone Co., later GTE, and began work as a ground man; he worked outside every day. Over the next 42 years, Zahn worked his way up the pole — literally — becoming a top lineman and a toll-line troubleshooter. During his time at Home Telephone, he married Phyllis, his neighbor from across the street, who he had known since he was 9. They had two children: Tom and Tamara.

The Zahn family got their first taste of Siesta Key while meeting their daughter’s friend’s family in Sarasota as they were vacationing at Clearwater Beach.

“Tamara’s friend’s parents wanted to meet and we came down from Clearwater, and from the first time, we fell in love with Siesta Key.”

Soon after, they began renting at the Anchorage and in 1982 the Zahns purchased a unit.

For seven years they rented out the unit, only using it for occasional getaways and vacations. But after Bob’s retirement in 1989, the couple became official snowbirds, spending six months in Fort Wayne and six months on Siesta Key; but after Phyllis passed away in 2010, Bob decided he wanted to make the Key his year-round home.

The Zahns were always active in the Anchorage community, serving on the board and working outside in the flower gardens around the property. Phyllis was the head of the social committee for several years, and Bob enjoyed working with the building and grounds committee. The two spent the majority of their time at the beach and by the pool – anything to be outside.

When a close friend of Phyllis’ suggested they create a memorial on the grounds of the Anchorage, Bob jumped at the opportunity to commemorate his wife, who shared his love of the outdoors and who, like him, had been an influential part of the Anchorage community. Contributions were requested, and the memorial was placed on the side of the bustling clubhouse, surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers.

“I take great pride in that and work in there quite a bit.” Zahn visits the memorial, often, checking the state of the plants that surround it.

Zahn currently serves as an elected member on the board of directors at the Anchorage. He says throughout his 30 years at the Anchorage, little has changed or needs to be changed.

Zahn’s fondness for Siesta Key is quite obvious as he begins to talk about all the things he does and places he enjoys going.

“The Key has pretty much everything you’d really want. It’s a wonderful place to live. It sure beats the winters in Indiana!” However, Zahn admits that being a full-time resident on the Key has its disadvantages during spring-break season.

He spends a lot of time with the friends he has made at the Anchorage and even attends a weekly breakfast with a group of them following Sunday Mass at St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church. Zahn also enjoys swimming at the Anchorage pool as well as in the Gulf of Mexico. Next week, Zahn turns 85. He says he plans to continue to enjoy the water and nice weather that come with being a resident on Siesta Key.