Robert Emmett Dougherty

Robert Emmett Dougherty, age 77, drained his last putt on February 22, 2018, and is moving on to the 19th hole for a glass of Dewars with St. Peter. Bob was born on December 27, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, to Helen Bain Dougherty Daniels and Lawrence Dougherty. He was the very proud stepson of WWII veteran Thomas R. Daniels. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Sheila Dougherty “Sister Mary Catharine Anne, Medical Missionaries of Mary.” He is survived by his wife, Anne (Boehmer) Dougherty, his four children, Kevin Dougherty (Michelene) Maureen Davidoff (Rick), Chris Dougherty (Bill), Sheila Harmon (Toby), his brother Patrick Dougherty (Marbeth), and his sister Mary Helen Hamilton (Allen). Bob is also survived and his legacy will live on through his 11 grandchildren who he bragged about to anyone would listen: Riley, Sean, Nick, Maddy, Grace, Quentin, Claire, Ava, Max, Sam, and Isabella.

Bob attended St. George High School in Evanston, Illinois, and later attended St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, on a baseball scholarship. Bob married his loving wife Anne 55 years ago. After a brief career in insurance, and after winning the Chicago City Amateur Open in 1961, he followed his love of golf and turned professional, starting as an assistant pro at the French Lick Golf Resort in 1976. He went on to work at Western Hills Country Club, Sandy Creek Golf Club, and Jefferson Elks Country Club, in Indiana. In 1990, he started The Professionals Golf School in Pinehurst N.C. He was thrilled to spend every day on the golf course teaching students of every ability, from beginners to PGA tour pros. Bob was awarded 1999 PGA Teacher of the Year award and 2003 Top Regional Teacher (Golf Digest). Bob was the golf coach for the North Carolina Special Olympics golf team for over 15 years and took the team to the Special Olympics World Games in Durham, NC in 1999. He was a very active and proud participant of the Wounded Warrior Project, he taught many wounded warriors---several who had never golfed before and solicited many donations for their end of week tournament. Bob was an Irishman who had the gift of blarney and always had a story about every famous person he ever met. He remembered every shot on every hole he ever played, he loved IU basketball, a glass of Dewars, and a warm day at Pinehurst #2.

A memorial mass will be held on Friday, March 16, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church, 7225 Southeastern Ave, Indianapolis, IN. Online condolences can be shared at Daniel F. O’ Riley Funeral Home, Indianapolis, IN, www.OrileyFuneralHome.com

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Medical Missionaries of Mary, 4425 W 63rd St #100, Chicago, IL 60629, http://mmmworldwide.org/.