Robert “Rob” Stephen Ellis IV

 Robert “Rob” Stephen Ellis IV, 59 of Fleming Island, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2023. Before his passing, he was given the ability to visit with some of his closest friends and family via phone and in person. This meant the world to Rob, as friends and family were what he treasured the most in life.

Rob was born in Chicago, IL, and by the age of 8 moved to the Annapolis, MD area where he grew up and lived until later in life. Rob attended both St. John’s and Severn High School in Severna Park, MD. He attended college for Architectural Engineering. Growing up he enjoyed skiing, rock climbing, sailing, golfing, and fly fishing.

For forty years, Rob worked in the waste, recycling, and plastics industries in both service and manufacturing organizations. From Sales to Director of Market Development and Operations to General Manager, Rob consistently met and exceeded the goals assigned to him. Rob had a passion for these industries, the jobs he held, the people he worked with and for, and the relationships he developed. Rob never met a “stranger.” He worked diligently to pass his extensive knowledge of these industries and positions on to others as well as assisting others to start or advance their careers in the same industries. He would tell others that, “people don’t buy products, they buy based on the human relationship.” Throughout his career, he forged the strongest of relationships with the people he met and he cherished every one of them.

At the age of forty, Rob and his wife, Trisha, moved to Fleming Island, Fl to have and raise their daughter, Addison. Rob was very proud that Addison developed a love of horses like “Doc” and her love of art like Gram, Rob’s grandmother. Rob spent the last nineteen years having breakfast with Santa and visits from the Easter Bunny, going to swim meets and horse competitions, chorus concerts, broadway shows and songs, Disney and Universal trips, Breyerfest in Lexington, KY, beach trips, playing video games and collecting Skylanders, and watching superhero and sci-fi movies. Rob loved the fact that he could wear shorts and flip flops, or if it was really cold, lined Crocs, twelve months out of the year; and he would never miss a chance to communicate this to his work associates who were located throughout the U.S. Rob always picked up the newest and strangest food concoctions that were invented by snack companies, which almost always made their way to the trash can. Rob’s favorite things in his life were his daughter, Addison, and his family and friends. He dreamed of retiring at the beach with warm sand and sun.

Rob is survived by: his wife, Trisha, and daughter, Addison Ellis, both of Fleming Island, FL; brother, Christopher Ellis (Dawn); sister, Lisa Ellis; sister, Lori Hardee (Ryan); many nieces and nephews; and many loving family and friends across the U.S. Rob was predeceased by his parents, Margaret Ellis and Robert “Doc” S. Ellis III, both of Annapolis, MD and later in life Lady Lake, FL.

The family is planning a private Celebration of Life at a later date.