HR812: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Robert Tata.


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 812
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Robert Tata.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, August 5, 2021

 

WHEREAS, the Honorable Robert Tata, a dedicated educator, youth athletics coach, and public servant who represented the residents of Kempsville and parts of Virginia Beach in the Virginia House of Delegates, died on June 11, 2021; and

WHEREAS, a native of Detroit, Michigan, Robert “Bob” Tata earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia, where he played football and baseball, then honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army from 1954 to 1956; and

WHEREAS, for many years, Bob Tata served the Norfolk community as an educator, counselor, and athletics coach at several high schools in the area; he was an assistant coach at the University of Virginia before becoming the head coach of the Norview High School football team, which achieved more than 100 wins and several district championship titles; and

WHEREAS, Bob Tata was selected as the Tidewater Coach of the Decade for his outstanding record between 1970 and 1980; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, Bob Tata ran for and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1984, where he represented the residents of the 85th District for 14 terms and became the chamber’s senior ranking Republican member; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as a state lawmaker, Bob Tata introduced and supported numerous important pieces of legislation to benefit all Virginians and played a prominent role in efforts to repeal the Commonwealth’s estate tax in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Bob Tata offered his leadership and expertise to several standing committees and rose to become chair of the Committee on Education; he served on the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations, where he chaired the Elementary and Secondary Education subcommittee; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Bob Tata served on the P-16 Education Council and the Civics Education Committee, and he was the House of Delegates’ representative to the Virginia High School League; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by his wife, Jeraldine, Bob Tata will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his children, Robert, Jr., Anthony, and Kendall, and their families, and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Robert Tata, a true Virginia statesman and a respected member of the community in Hampton Roads; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Robert Tata as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 812

Offered August 4, 2021
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Robert Tata.

Patrons-- Miyares, Askew, Avoli, Batten, Bell, Campbell, R.R., Cole, J.G., Cole, M.L., Cox, Coyner, Gilbert and Guzman

WHEREAS, the Honorable Robert Tata, a dedicated educator, youth athletics coach, and public servant who represented the residents of Kempsville and parts of Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates, died on June 11, 2021; and

WHEREAS, a native of Detroit, Michigan, Robert “Bob” Tata earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia, where he played football and baseball, then honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army from 1954 to 1956; and

WHEREAS, for many years, Bob Tata served the Norfolk community as an educator, counselor, and athletics coach at several high schools in the area; he was an assistant coach at the University of Virginia before becoming the head coach of the Norview High School football team, which achieved more than 100 wins and several district championship titles; and

WHEREAS, Bob Tata was selected as the Tidewater Coach of the Decade for his outstanding record between 1970 and 1980; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, Bob Tata ran for and was elected to the House of Delegates in 1984, where he represented the residents of the 85th District for 14 terms and became the chamber’s senior ranking Republican member; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as a state lawmaker, Bob Tata introduced and supported numerous important pieces of legislation to benefit all Virginians and played a prominent role in efforts to repeal the Commonwealth’s estate tax in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Bob Tata offered his leadership and expertise to several standing committees and rose to become chair of the Committee on Education; he also served on the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations, where he chaired the Elementary and Secondary Education subcommittee; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Bob Tata served on the P-16 Education Council and the Civics Education Committee, and he was the House of Delegates’ representative to the Virginia High School League; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by his wife, Jeraldine, Bob Tata will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his children, Robert, Jr., Anthony, and Kendall, and their families, and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Robert Tata, a true Virginia statesman and a respected member of the community in Hampton Roads; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Robert Tata as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.