Death of famed underwater archaeologist Bob Marx reminds us: Chase those dreams | Kennerly

Britt Kennerly
Florida Today
Robert "Bob" Marx, an underwater archaeologist - not a treasure hunter - uncovered numerous sunken treasures around the world. Here, Marx, who died July 4, is shown in his Indialantic study.

Robert "Bob" Marx, his wife says, was born with a hunger for adventure, a thirst for knowledge and consuming curiosity.

Wrapped up in love, the famed underwater archaeologist died July 4 at age 82, in the historic and memory-filled Indialantic home he shared with his wife, Jenifer.

But his death, while heartbreaking for those who loved him, serves as a poignant reminder and challenge: to chase dreams. Fill that hunger; drink from the knowledge of others. Live life to the fullest.

And oh, how Bob Marx lived.

His list of adventures, accomplishments and accolades could and did fill books: He wrote more than 50 books and 900 articles and papers. He was adventure editor of the Saturday Evening Post, archaeology editor of Argosy magazine, and a movie and TV consultant — and survived shark bites.

Bob was best known, his family says, for the archaeological excavation of the sunken city of Port Royal for the government of Jamaica, as well as the discovery of the 1656 Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, shipwrecked off Grand Bahama Island. His expedition was featured in a network TV documentary, "Treasure Galleon" narrated by Rod Serling.

A ship model at the historic Indialantic home of Bob and Jenifer Marx honors the Saint Geran, built in Lorient in 1737 and part of the naval fleet of the French East India Company.

He was knighted by the Spanish government for his reenactment of the voyage of Columbus' Niña II, which he wrote about in his book "The Voyage of the Nina II." 

A U.S. Marine, Bob was director of the USMC Diving School in Vieques, Puerto Rico, in the 1950s. A Korean War combat veteran, in fall 2018 he was thrilled to take a Space Coast Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.

Robert Marx, an underwater archaeologist, lived a colorful life, uncovering numerous sunken treasures around the world.

The father of three daughters was passionate: about his family, his proudest accomplishment, along with his service. About history. The sea. Shipwrecks. Ancient Phoenicians. His best finds include an 80-pound gold helmet Marx said belonged to Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.

"People have called me from around the world or just walked in the door from a few streets away to tell me what an impact he had on their lives," said Jenifer, who married Bob in 1970.

"Not just by leading by example by not letting life pass him by, as one of his friends explained to me, but also because he cared about his friends' well-being and checked in on them often if they were facing any difficulty."

Bob and Jenifer Marx were married in 1970. Bob, a famed underwater archaeologist, died July 4 at the couple's Indialantic home.

And until his health failed, he radiated "amazing energy and charisma," his wife said.

"Now with his passing, I have come to truly appreciate what a good friend and mentor he was to many. He is well known as a wonderful storyteller, regaling friends and public alike with tales of his adventures," said Jenifer, an acclaimed writer of books about pirates.

"With an amazing memory, he could bring one right back to a discovery he made in the Yucatan jungle or a rare map he stumbled upon in the archives in Spain."

Vintage books line the shelves in the historic home of Bob and Jenifer Marx. Bob Marx, a renowned shipwreck and treasure hunter, died July 4.

What drives a man to literally dive into the past? It's something only Bob could truly explain.

"My lifetime yen for adventure no doubt grew out of the circumstances of my childhood. I was born in a little house in the shadow of a Pittsburgh steel mill on December 8, 1936," he once wrote.

His childhood wasn't the easiest. His parents divorced when he was young. He left home at an early age.

"Like many Europeans, my father, who was an Austrian immigrant, was fascinated by stories of lost treasures," he wrote. "As far back as I can remember, he used to spin fanciful tales about vast hoards of gold and fabulous treasures that were hidden all over the world. These tales sank deep into my young mind and I was certain that one day I would search for and find numerous treasures."

Jenifer Marx accepts an honorary degree on behalf of her late husband, Sir Robert Marx, at Florida Tech's summer commencement ceremony on Saturday, July 27. "Bob" Marx died July 4 at the couple's Indialantic home at age 82.

And in those treasures, linking the past to the present, Bob found his future.

"For me, adventure is a way of life and I wouldn't change it for anything in this world," he wrote.

"Risk and chance are words, which excite and challenge me. For as long as I remember I have been fascinated by the idea of actively seeking the past ... I have explored under the sea and on land and lost track of time researching ancient manuscripts in musty archives and museums. For years I've said that I will retire and try living a normal life, but no sooner have I completed an expedition than several more opportunities are presented to whet my appetite for further adventures."

Robert "Bob" Marx, 83, of Indialantic cries while reading a letter from his daughter at the Baltimore airport, during a Space Coast Honor Flight.

So, as Bob took off on his next great adventure, Jenifer told him that his loved ones would "all be fine" because he taught them to be strong.

A private, light-filled celebration of his life was scheduled for July 26, in the garden of the home he so loved. 

Then, rain poured, Jenifer said. 

"Thunder, lightning just as friends and family arrived ... the heavens opened," she said. "But before dark the rain stopped, the sky was blue, the sunset glorious, the garden bathed in a luminous glow and, best of all, a vivid double rainbow appeared over the ocean. We all felt Bob’s presence. Perfect."

And who better than Bob Marx to find out what's beyond that rainbow?

Contact Kennerly at 321-242-3692 or bkennerly@floridatoday.com, Twitter @bybrittkennerly or at Facebook.com/bybrittkennerly.