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Letter to the editor

Don CeSar renovator, a man of deep feelings

By STEPHANIE HAYES, Times Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Robert Vodicka's son Donald said his father's drawings "are like amazing works of art." [Family photo]

ST. PETERSBURG - Robert Vodicka was dead. His plane had crashed on a dangerous mission in the Army Air Corps.

At least, that's what his wife thought.

Pearle Vodicka tearfully packed to leave the military base as a widow. But, in 1950, two days after he "died," her husband walked through the door. There had been a mix-up. Mr. Vodicka wasn't on the plane that crashed.

In his life, things weren't always what they seemed.

* * *

He thought English was his language. But when he was 7, his family moved from America to his father's homeland, Czechoslovakia. He forgot much of what he knew here.

The family owned a castle hotel, one of the country's oldest buildings. But in 1939 when the Germans invaded, the family fled to America. Mr. Vodicka was 22, and he had to learn English. Again.

He was still a U.S. citizen, and joined the Army to fight in the war that displaced him.

* * *

He thought he would be an artist. But as a teen in Czechoslovakia, he showed up late to a placement exam and accidentally took an architecture test. He passed.

After fighting in three wars, Mr. Vodicka settled in St. Petersburg. He designed the renovated Don CeSar Beach Resort, which had been sitting empty, an abandoned mess of graffiti and broken glass.

He designed the St. Petersburg Beach Hilton, local churches and the logo for Alaska's centennial celebration. He was inspired by skyscrapers and Frank Lloyd Wright, but also loved romantic, Spanish-style architecture.

"His drawings are like amazing works of art," said his son, Donald Vodicka, 58.

* * *

Everyone thought he was strict and buttoned up - and he was. Mr. Vodicka enjoyed the rigor of soldier life. He was always on time. His children had room inspections.

But he had feelings - deep, conflicted thoughts that peeked out as he aged. He'd cry while recounting a battle where enemy soldiers died. And all the death he had seen while fighting in Vietnam weighed heavy.

Pearle, his first love, died 28 years ago. He loved her madly, and wondered if she had known just how much. He wrote in journals every day. On one page, he posted a newspaper advice column he had clipped about saying "I love you" before it's too late.

In the margins, he wrote, "I'm so sorry, Pearle."

* * *

He thought it was a hairline crack in his foot. But it led to problems and operations. Donald Vodicka thinks his father could have lived to 100 if not for that foot.

He did hold out for one thing. At age 90, Mr. Vodicka died Dec. 13 - Pearle's birthday.

Stephanie Hayes can be reached at shayes@sptimes.com or 727 893-8857.

Robert D. Vodicka

Born: July 8, 1917

Died: Dec. 13, 2007

Survivors: Children, Donald Vodicka and Lisa Johnson; grandchildren, Lance and Robert Vodicka and Jeremy, Nick and Alexandra Johnson.

[Last modified December 18, 2007, 22:37:28]