# Bob Tata > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bob_Tata > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bob_Tata.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Tata > Source revision: 1350869341 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Robert Tata** (January 27, 1930 – June 11, 2021) was an American politician. A [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) and the member of the [Virginia House of Delegates](/source/Virginia_House_of_Delegates) from 1984 to 2014, representing the 85th district in [Virginia Beach](/source/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia).[1][2] Tata announced that he would not run for reelection in 2013.[3] ## Early life Tata was born and raised in [Detroit](/source/Detroit), the son of Italian immigrants. He attended the [University of Virginia](/source/University_of_Virginia), where he played varsity [football](/source/American_football) and [baseball](/source/Baseball). He was drafted in 1953 by the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions) of the National Football League, but was cut in training camp. He returned to [Charlottesville, Virginia](/source/Charlottesville,_Virginia) to complete his [B.S.](/source/B.S.) degree in education and met his future wife, Martha Jeraldine "Jerry" Morris, while doing his student teaching.[1][4] Tata served in the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) 1954–1956. He and his wife then moved to [Norfolk, Virginia](/source/Norfolk,_Virginia), where they both took school jobs. Tata later received an [M.S.](/source/M.S.) degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Virginia. ## Coaching career Tata spent about 30 years as a teacher and guidance counselor in the [Hampton Roads](/source/Hampton_Roads) area; he spent a number of those years serving as a football coach at the schools where he worked. At his first stop, [Norfolk Catholic High School](/source/Norfolk_Catholic_High_School_(Virginia)), his teams were 8–81 in the 1956 and 1957 seasons. Tata was the 19th head football coach at [The Apprentice School](/source/The_Apprentice_School) in [Newport News, Virginia](/source/Newport_News,_Virginia) and he held that position for the 1963 season. His coaching record at Apprentice was 3–3–2.[5][6] In 1965, his only year as head coach at [Granby High School](/source/Granby_High_School), the team went 10−1, losing only the state championship game.[4][7] He then coached at [Norview High School](/source/Norview_High_School) 1967 to 1979, winning six district championships with an overall record of 101−32−2.[4][8] ## Personal life and death Tata taught for 40 years, and served for four years on the Virginia Beach School Board. The Tatas had two sons and a daughter. Robert M. Tata attended the [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy); he became a captain in the [United States Naval Reserve](/source/United_States_Naval_Reserve), and a lawyer. [Anthony J. Tata](/source/Anthony_J._Tata), a [West Point](/source/West_Point) graduate, rose to the rank of brigadier general in the United States Army and is a novelist. Kendall Tata went to the University of Virginia and [James Madison University](/source/James_Madison_University), and became a Virginia Beach high school teacher and track coach.[4] Tata died on June 11, 2021, in Stanardsville, Virginia.[9] ## References 1. ["Virginia House of Delegates 2013; Delegate Robert Tata"](http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/a7b082ef6ed01eac85256c0d00515644/2ce9ef92cc29512a8525753500577400?OpenDocument&Click=85256823005F1997.f0a3d2c6f9f07af1852570bd00646e36/$Body/0.1A96). Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 1. ["Re-Elect Bob Tata, Virginia House of Delegates, 85th District"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130824090334/http://www.delegatebobtata.com/meet.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.delegatebobtata.com/meet.html) on 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 1. Lewis, Bob (2013-04-03). ["In Virginia reconvened session, Putney heads august class of retiring lawmakers bidding adieu"](https://archive.today/20130615232247/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-03/local/38239780_1_sessions-football-stardom-tata-s). *The Washington Post*. Associated Press. Archived from [the original](https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-03/local/38239780_1_sessions-football-stardom-tata-s) on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-04-11. 1. Minium, Harry (2006-01-30). ["Delegate says he is nearing end of his public life"](https://archive.today/20130125013242/http://hamptonroads.com/2006/01/delegate-says-he-nearing-end-his-public-life). *The Virginian-Pilot*. Archived from [the original](http://hamptonroads.com/2006/01/delegate-says-he-nearing-end-his-public-life) on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 1. [Apprentice Builders coaching records](http://www.acfcfootball.com/members/apprenticeschool/Apprentice_School) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081202033403/http://www.acfcfootball.com/members/apprenticeschool/Apprentice_School) December 2, 2008 at the Wayback Machine 1. ["Apprentice School football timeline"](http://www.dailypress.com/dp-spt-apprentice-football-timeline,0,2713796.htmlstory). Daily Press. 1920-12-27. Retrieved 2016-12-04. 1. Molinaro, Bob (2006-11-23). ["A feast from the past. Remember when?"](http://hamptonroads.com/node/186321). *The Virginian-Pilot*. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 1. ["Career coaching records; non-active coaches"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061102034225/http://virginiapreps.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=914&CID=438185). VirginiaPreps.com. Archived from [the original](http://virginiapreps.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=914&CID=438185) on 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 1. ["Robert Tata Obituary (1930 - 2021) - Stanardsville, VA - Daily Progress"](https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/robert-bob-tata-obituary?pid=199035411). *[Legacy.com](/source/Legacy.com)*. June 12, 2021. ## External links - ["Richmond Sunlight; Delegate Robert Tata"](http://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/rtata/) - ["Virginia Public Access Project; Robert M Tata"](http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/home/1758) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bob Tata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Tata) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Tata?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.