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OBITUARIES Bob Kane, 82, writer for Life, Parade, public relations specialist

OBITUARIES Bob Kane, 82, writer for Life, Parade, public relations specialist
BYLINE: Suzanne Gregory, Staff
DATE: 05-29-1999
PUBLICATION: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
EDITION: Home
SECTION: Local News
PAGE: G7
A writer for Life and Parade magazines and owner of a public relations firm, Bob Kane, 82, o f Decatur always had a story to tell. It could be a humorous tale about his ordering from the children's menu at Wendy's restaurant, about his grandsons or a feature on the curve ball . And Mr. Kane, a gregarious man who called into the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Ven t every other week and had six items published, knew how to tell it and write it.
"He liked telling historical stories," said his son Cameron Kane of Marietta. "He seemed to be the guy who was at every major historical event. Not in the limelight; he was in the wings. "
"He was interested in everyone. He would come home from IHOP and know all about the waitress, " said daughter-in-law Ginger Kane of Marietta. "He was absolutely nosy about people. But he did it in a way that people didn't mind," she added.
The memorial service for Robert Francis Kane is 1 P.M. today at A.S. Turner & Sons. The body was cremated. He died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at his residence.
A 1938 graduate of Kansas State University, Mr. Kane was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corp s during World War II. He gained his experience in public relations from doing the publicity for "Shot from the Sky, " an exhibition featuring captured German and Japanese military equipment, used to sell war bonds.
While at Life magazine, Mr. Kane did investigative reporting, toured the country with Life ph otographers and wrote captions for photos and short articles. He left to write for Parade whe n it was founded, said his son.
A 30-year commuter on the Long Island Railroad, Mr. Kane spent 12 years as director of publi c relations for F.H. McGraw Construction Co. A member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers and its Georgia association, Mr. Kane threw a retirement party on the train for a 50-year railroad attendant. The New York Times wrote a story on it, said Alan Yorker of Decatur, president of the Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers.
Mr. Kane was a member of the Overseas Press Club. And he created the Golden Mike Award, an award for the best football announcer of the year, for the New York Touchdown Club.
"He was always looking for publicity. His mind was always looking on how can I get publicity for this person or that person," said his wife, Aileen Kane.
Retiring from Robert Francis Kane and Associates public relations firm in New York in 1988, M r. Kane moved to Decatur. He wrote articles for area newspapers, the KSU alumni magazine and other publications. He was a member of the Aviation Writers Association, the Atlanta Press Club and the WWII Roundtable.
Survivors other than his wife and son include another son, Philip Kane of Decatur; two sisters, Marian Nering of El Paso, Texas, and Florence Richey of Birmingham; a brother, Richard Kane of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; and two grandsons.
ILLUSTRATIONS/PHOTOS: Bob Kane
TYPE: Obituary

Copyright 1999,The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, All rights reserved.