"Chief was a great friend and mentor. Always there when I needed him no matter where in the world we were. RIP Chief!! You will never be forgotten and always in my heart! My condolenses go to your family!!"
In loving memory of
Robert E. Hoyt
November 4, 1968 - January 21, 2012
United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Robert E. Hoyt, passed away suddenly on January 21, 2012 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD at the age of 43. At the time of his death, Hoyt was superintendent of Ellsworth's 28th Security Forces Squadron, which serves as law enforcement for the base.
Hoyt was born on November 4, 1968 in Des Moines, IA, to proud parents John Hoyt of Winter Park, FL and Patricia Hoyt of Englewood, FL. He attended high school in Florida at Vero Beach High School and graduated from Lemon Bay High School in 1987. At that time, Hoyt enlisted in the United States Air Force.
Hoyt was a career Air Force Security Forces member and participated in numerous humanitarian, small-scale contingency and full combat operations. He deployed in support of Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR in Hungary; ALLIED FORCE/SHINING HOPE in Albania and Kosovo; and ENDURING FREEDOM in Kyrgyzstan. Hoyt also deployed three times to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, where he was stationed in Bashur, Tallil, and Baghdad, Iraq. His most memorable deployment was a combat parachute jump into northern Iraq at the beginning of the war in 2003 with 19 other Airmen and 980 Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers).
Hoyt's permanent assignments included bases in Louisiana, South Carolina, South Dakota, South Korea, Germany, Spain and England. During his assignment in Osan, South Korea, Hoyt met Mison, his loving wife of 20 years. Hoyt is also survived by their daughter, Tricia, an undergraduate student in Florida.
Hoyt was a graduate of Air Force Raven School and Army Airborne School. His numerous accolades include being selected as the 86th Contingency Response Group NCO of the Year (Germany) in 1999; the United States Air Forces in Europe American Spirit of Service Award (Germany) in 2000; and the 48th Mission Support Group SNCO of the Year (England) in 2006. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Additionally, he held an Associate's Degree from the Community College of the Air Force in Security Administration.
An adoring husband to Mison, a proud father of Tricia, a devoted son to John and Patricia, and a loyal brother, Hoyt is also survived by his siblings Andrew Hoyt and his wife Karen of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Jacqueline Hoyt Johnson and her husband Jeffrey of Deerfield Beach, FL; Michael Hoyt and his wife Maria of Naples, FL; and Lawrence Hoyt and his wife Peggy of Tampa, FL. Additionally, Hoyt is survived by a large and loving extended family and many caring friends.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Englewood at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 3, interment will immediately follow at Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in CMSgt Robert Hoyt's name, to Wounded Warrior Project, In Memory of CMSgt Robert Hoyt, 4899 Belfort Rd., Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or online at: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=72&source=WEBSITE.
Lemon Bay Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements. You may express your condolences to the family at lemonbayfh.com
Tributes
"I was stationed with Bob in Spain. He was an exceptional NCO. He took care of his people, was respected and loved, had a smile that lit up a room and was always ready to lend a hand. I feel richer for having known him and served with him. My deepest condolences to all of his family. "
"Bobby, you will be greatly missed by all your family and friends. rest in peace cuz"
"RIP Bobby. While I only knew you for a few months, every time we ran across one another we always made each other laugh."
"I was saddened to read of the passing of Bob Hoyt. I was the altar server coordinator at St. Helen Church in Vero Beach; Bob served 1982-1984 and Larry from 1982-1986. Over the years I have trained 680 servers and some of them just stand out in my memory. Message for father - John, I became involved at IRMH in about 1983 at the urging of Bob Ballard; I went on the board in 1985 and served 7 years as Sec-Treas and then 6 as chairman. The hospital is alive and well and has a wonderful association with Duke University. Mike O'Grady died this past November. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. I hope out paths will cross again."
"I will miss you brother. Rest in Peace"
"No words can express the gratitude I have for knowing you. I will miss you my friend. However, in my thoughts and heart you will live until the day we meet again!"