The Darlington Community bids farewell to longtime friend and Life Trustee Robert K. "Bob" Zelle, who died June 12 in Gulf Stream, Fla., at the age of 86.
Zelle was a graduate of John Burroughs School in St. Louis, Mo., and Yale University. After college, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a pilot and instrument instructor in World War II. In 1956, he moved to Nashville with his wife, Anne, to become executive vice president of Life and Casualty Insurance Co. of Tennessee. When Zelle retired from the company in 1970, he was in charge of sales and marketing. He continued his business interests primarily as an investor in private companies and venture capital entities. In 1980, he founded Reel Broadcasting Co. and WZTV - Channel 17, Nashville's first independent television station, which was acquired by Multimedia Inc. in 1982.
Zelle was a devoted supporter of a variety of civic endeavors. In addition to serving as a life trustee at Darlington, he was past-chairman of the school's Board of Visitors and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society and the Heritage Society. He and his wife were major donors for the Zelle Fine Arts Center, which opened in 1977 and was named in memory of their son, Robert Zelle Jr. ('72). Zelle also served on the Boards of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, The University School of Nashville and Alive Hospice, and was one of the founders of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
He is survived by Anne Hassett Zelle, his wife of 57 years, and his brother-in-law, William L. Hassett (Mary Lee). He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry G. and Theresa K. Zelle; his son, Robert K. Zelle Jr. ('72); and his sister, Gloria Zelle Kahle.
A visitation will be held June 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1209 Chickering Road in Nashville. A graveside service will be held June 15 at 10 a.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville. Memorial gifts may be made to Darlington School in memory of Bob Zelle or to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
