Figure Skater, Entertainer. Bobby was born in Superior, Wisconsin and the third of four sons. His father was a successful dentist, and his mother was an aspiring actress. He frequented the Superior Curling Club, which was also housed ice skating and ice hockey, but he did not begin figure skating until his early teenage years when he was discovered by coach Frank Sullivan. In 1938 he won the bronze medal in the novice men's event at the United States Figure Skating Championships, uncommonly at the time, one judge awarded him a 6.0 during his free skate. He won the novice gold medal at the 1939 event. During the 1940 competition season he won the United States Figure Skating Championship junior title and teamed up with Joan Mitchell in pairs. Despite a rocky first season together, the duo won the 1941 Midwestern Championships and went on to win the bronze at the United States Figure Skating Championship, where he also finished off the podium in singles due to an ankle injury. After Joan suffered a career ending knee injury, Bobby concentrated solely on his singles skating. In 1942 he won the Midwestern Championships senior men's title. That same year he won gold at the United States Championships. When the International Skating Union put the World Championships on hold due to World War II, Bobby chose to turn professional, tour with the Ice Capades and join the military. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 to and was honorably discharged in 1943 due to rheumatic fever and a heart murmur. Upon completion of his military service, he returned to the Ice Capades, headlining both singles and pairs. His pairs partner was Donna Atwood, whom he and Joan competed against at the 1941 United States Figure Skating Championships with her partner Eugene Turner. Bobby and Donna performed ice ballet adaptations of "The Sleeping Beauty," Sigmund Romberg's "The Student Prince," and an interpretation of the Antony and Cleopatra story. On May 20, 1946, the pair made the cover of "LIFE" magazine. They appeared on "The Colgate Comedy Hour," "The Ed Sullivan Show," and "The Steve Allen Show". When Donna retired in 1956, he continued skating with the Ice Capades and club carnivals until 1964 when a broken foot ended his skating career.