par Nutrimuscle-Conseils » 16 Avr 2020 10:22
Remembering Bob Gruskin.
On April 14th the world of bodybuilding lost our very good friend in Bob Gruskin. All that I have heard is that he had a very high fever. He was 83 years old. One can surmise that it could have been COVID-19.
He was one of the best coaches or gurus of bodybuilding from the last 40 years. What is not so well known is that he was also a wonderful bodybuilding photographer.
At the NABBA Worlds in Aberdeen, Scotland in 2003, I spent quite a bit of time with Bob, shared taxis with him, and hung out. He supplied me with 73 photos (prints) from the contest for the DVD covers for the contest. I will make a memorial gallery on our GMV Facebook PHOTOS to share with you these wonderful 2003 photos. A small tribute to his photography skills.
Bob was the head of NABBA USA for many years until health issues caused him about 10 years ago to cut back on these activities and reduce his international travel to events in Europe.
I knew Bob since the 1987 NABBA Universe where he brought the USA team to London for the annual Universe competition. 2 days after the contest he brought two of his stars in JERRY SCALESSE and Junior champion JOE DeANGELIS to my London studio for video and photos. It's hard to believe that was 33 years ago.
Bob's incredible USA Universe team in 1987 was as follows:
JERRY SCALESSE, JOE DeANGELIS, LARRY BERNSTEIN, STEVEN STRUNK, JOE MEEKO and PETE MOEN. Scalesse and Strunk each won their Amateur Universe class. One week later Joe DeAngelis won the Junior title at the NABBA Worlds in Belgium.
In the 1987 WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE CLASS it was 1st and second for USA with CONNIE McCLOSKEY 1st, followed by MARY HOVEY-WALK.
In the Professional Universe Bob's competitors from USA were JEFF KING who placed 2nd to Olev Annus, RUFUS HOWARD and BOB REIS.
At the 1988 NABBA Amateur Universe, Bob's team was as follows with Casey and Victor winning their classes and Victor winning Overall:
CASEY KUCHARYK, VICTOR TERRA, PETE MOEN, PETER KUTSUGERAS, and SHANNON MONROE in the Junior Class. KARLA NELSEN competed in Women's Physique. I had studio shoots with many of Bob's USA team in these Golden Years.
In the 1988 NABBA Pro Universe Bob's team USA placed as follows:
JERRY SCALESSE was 2nd to Charles Clairmonte, with MARLON DARTON 4th and JEFF KING 6th and RUFUS HOWARD 7th.
Bob's NABBA Universe team in 1989 was:
Mr. CLASS 3 & OVERALL AMATEUR MR. UNIVERSE - Matt Dufresne. Casey Kucharyk WON CLASS 2, and Marlon Darton was 4th in the PROFESSIONALS.
Although USA still had a strong presence at the NABBA Universe the large USA teams had peaked by the late 1980s. However in 1991 Bob had more success with Men's Class 1 winner in Joe De Angelis and the Professional Mr. Universe title going to Victor Terra .
In 1992 Bob's Tall Class 1 winner was Mick Souza.
In 1993 USA's Women's Physique Winner in Tall Class 1 was Millie Carter Gruninger.
In 1994 Bob produced 3 more champions at the Universe. They were CLASS 2 – MEDIUM TALL Amateur Men with Ted Lopes 1st and the great Dennis James 2nd. Dennis went on to have a most successful career as a top IFBB Professional.
In the MISS PHYSIQUE CLASS 2, Cathy Butler-Corish was the winner representing team USA.
In 1995 Universe CLASS 2 MEDIUM-TALL it was first place to Dennis James. In the women's division, it was MS. PHYSIQUE CLASS 2 & OVERALL winner in Cathy Butler-Corish. Another Overall Title for Bob and USA.
In 1997 it was MR CLASS 4 winner Frank Vassil of USA.
It was then quite a gap till 2010 when the MASTERS OVER 50 winner was USA’s Hugh Ross. That was the last Universe title for Bob's Team USA.
Before I met Bob in 1987, there had been some great success for Team USA winning these Overall NABBA Amateur Universe titles:
1981 John Brown, USA
1982 John Brown, USA
1983 Jeff King, USA
1985 Tim Belknap, USA
The 1980s USA winners of the PROFESSIONAL NABBA UNIVERSE were as follows:
1980 Tony Pearson, USA
1981 Robby Robinson, USA
1986 Lance Dreher, USA
It was in 1983 that Bob Gruskin brought NABBA to USA and became the President for his country. This was after attended his first NABBA Universe that year and mentoring Jeff King to his victory.
Bob Gruskin was friend, guru and manager to one of the most successful overseas teams ever in the history of the NABBA Universe. Bob also trained many AAU Mr America winners, such as 1987 AAU Overall Mr. America winner Richard Barretta, pictured receiving his trophy from Bob.
RIP Bob, you will be greatly missed and never forgotten.
My photo below of Bob was taken in NJ, 2010, and the Jeff King photo is my favourite photo taken by Bob.
