Obituary of Carl R. Regenhardt

REGENHARDT, Carl R., 67, of Lutz, formerly of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Born in Niagara Falls, NY, he graduated from La Salle Senior High School before entering the U.S. Air Force in 1958, where without any college training; he successfully completed the college GED. This achievement gave him an appointment to the Air Force Academy, Denver, CO which he turned down rather than add four years to his enlistment. Assigned to Strategic Air Command, Mr. Regenhardt was stationed at the US home base for the U-2 spy plane and personally received the Distinguished Service Medal from President Eisenhower. During this assignment he progressed through 12 belt rankings in judo to the level of Nikyu. Transferred to Casablanca, Morocco in 1960, he served in finance and accounting, was base Judo Instructor and took a part-time job as a radio announcer for Armed Forces Radio Services. A month before discharge, he declined a reassignment to the then forming Black Berets (precursors of the Green Berets) and Opted for an overseas discharge to become Civilian Cash Control Supervisor, commissary operations, for the three U.S. military bases in Morocco. Returning to the U.S. a year later, Mr. Regenhardt enrolled in St. Petersburg Junior College. There he pursued his degree in Radio and Television, was instructor of the college’s Judo Team, Advertising Manager of the college newspaper, had papers published in college’s literary magazine, was elected Class President of his graduating class, President of the Florida Junior College Press Association, and to Above and Beyond (the top ten of the College’s Who’s Who) as evidence of a lighter side, a leading sorority chose Mr. Regenhardt as their “mascot”. He completed his two years on scholarships. After graduation, Mr. Regenhardt joined a St. Petersburg advertising agency and in five years rose to Executive Vice President. He then chose against a full partnership in favor of opening Regenhardt Advertising Agency in 1971. The agency concentrated on political advertising and in one year handled 52 political races, winning 48. He saw an opportunity for doctors and lawyers to advertise in 1980 (before it was legal) and became a leader in the field of advertising for professionals, writing several articles for national magazines, co-writing and editing four books on professional advertising for professionals, writing the world’s first “infomercial” and traveling up to 28 weekends of the year, from 1980 to 1991, giving speeches on the subject to audiences in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans and San Francisco. Mr. Regenhardt entered semi-retirement in 1994, moved to Lutz and built his dream home, a 10,000 square foot English castle and outbuildings (circa 1050 AD) on three acres beside a lake. He and his wife traveled extensively; visiting France, England, Ireland, German, Canada, Spain, Tahiti, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy, Panama, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Mr. Regenhardt was a De Molay, 32 degree Mason, member of the Scottish Rite, a Shriner, President of Young Egyptian Shriners, Director of Sales and Marketing Executives, Director of Contractors and Builders Association, member of The St. Petersburg Yacht Club, MENSA, Intertel, Royal American Shrine, Kentucky Colonels, and served as the second Captain, and tenth King, Ye Mystic Krewe of Neptune. A published poet and songwriter (words and music). He is survived by his wife, Janie of 42 years; daughter, Kathleen Caballero (Marco) of Holiday, FL; two sons, Carl Jr., of Lutz and Kurt (Nicole) of Venice, FL, one grandson, Kurt; stepmother, Margaret Regenhardt of Bushnell, FL; sister, Susan (Jay) Stees of Dunnellon, FL; two brothers, William (Carol) of Bushnell; Paul (Charlene) of Centennial, Colorado; many nieces and nephews, cousins, family and friends. Services will be held at the families home 4:00 P.M.