Robert Frankovic, 86, of Spokane, passed away peacefully on the evening of March 9th. Surrounded by family and friends throughout the day, before succumbing to heart failure.

A lifelong resident of Spokane, Robert attended St. Joseph's Grade School and Gonzaga High School. He later graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, becoming the first in his family to attend college. Robert was a fervent supporter of
Gonzaga, particularly its basketball team. Whether watching the games live, on TV, or in Las Vegas during March Madness, he was arguably one of Gonzaga Basketball's biggest fans. His family and friends knew better than to discuss a Gonzaga loss with him until the following day.

In 1961, the same year Robert graduated from Gonzaga University, he received his draft notice. Opting for the Navy, he became a Naval Officer. He was stationed on an Oiler in the West Pacific, his ship was a "floating gas station," which supplied fuel to those in need. His service
took him to Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines and Hawaii.

It was in Port Hueneme, CA, near the Naval base, where Robert met his future wife, Nancy, an elementary school teacher. They would go on to make their home in Spokane, raising three children together.

After six years in the Navy, Robert worked in the Naval Reserves as well working as an Account Manager for Carnation Dairy in WA& ID before transitioning into real estate, where he excelled. Many knew Robert as Bob, or by his persona of 'Garlic Bob,' a nickname that stuck
after a 1998 New York Times article highlighted how Robert, then a Real Estate Broker, was using the internet to help sell homes – a fairly new concept at the time. Garlic Bob's online slogan was "Garlic for your Health and Homes for your Wealth."

In his younger years in Spokane, Robert was known as Bobby. An industrious kid, Bobby sold newspapers on the street corner near Lourdes Cathedral and the old Bus Station. His first official job was at the Broadway Pharmacy, where he mopped floors and burned cardboard waste out back after school. At 15, Bobby obtained a work permit from the State of WA and started working as a produce box-boy at a grocery store on Broadway. Initially earning about .75 cents an hour, his wages increased significantly when a Union Rep argued he should be making Journeyman wages. The grocery store, not wanting to lose him, agreed to the pay raise, making Bobby a Journeyman wage earner at age 15. In the mid-1950s, Bob enjoyed several years of drag racing with his high school friends, his favorite vehicle being a souped-up '27 Ford T Roadster.  The races were in Deer Park & on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah.  The Blue Lantern Tavern sponsored the races.

Robert enjoyed fishing, especially on the Lemhi River in beautiful Salmon, ID, where his wife's parents were cattle ranchers. Robert had a passion for investing in stocks & bonds. He distinctly favored any stock that paid a dividend. Robert was also an accomplished gardener, maintaining a small orchard of cherry, apple, and pear trees, as well as a massive garden filled with rows of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. He took particular pride in growing the perfect tomatoes and garlic.

Robert and his wife, Nancy were members of St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Colbert and prior to that, St. Thomas More Parish in Spokane. Robert was involved with many charitable activities at Gonzaga over the years and generously gifted multiple Perpetual Named Scholarships to
Gonzaga Prep in his Frankovic family's name. Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, of 54 years. He is survived by his children: Heather, Greg, and Kara; his daughter-in-law, Diana; his grandson, Andrei; and his siblings: Shari, Michael, Patrick, and Julie.

Memorial Gifts can be made to Gonzaga or the Spokane Humane Society.
http://www.gonzaga.edu/zagsgiveday
https://spokanehumanesociety.org/donate/