Tampa Bay author, journalist, podcaster Andelman passes away

Bob Andelman, longtime Tampa Bay author has died at the age of 59.

“Bob was the most generous, loving person I’ve ever known,” Tampa Bay Times news editor and wife of Andelman Mimi Andelman said. “I think a lot of that is because of all the love he got in return. I always joked with Bob that if he ever wanted to give up writing, he should be a therapist. He really listened to people. It mattered.”

During his time, Andelman worked on a number of publications including the then-St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Tampa Tribune, Music, Focus and the Maddux Report. He was an editor at Tampa Bay Weekly and created the feature magazine Jump Monthly.

He was an early adapter of online publishing and podcasting with Mr. Media, a website he started in 1995. He was also the editor and publisher of a small imprint, Mr. Media Books.

Jeff Klinkenberg, an author and former writer for the Tampa Bay Times added, “He was an exceptional interviewer, probably because he did his research beforehand. He also had a knack for asking offbeat questions that provoked very human responses.”

Andelman grew up in North Brunswick, N.J. and moved to the Tampa Bay area in 1982 after graduation from the University of Florida. He is succeeded by his wife and son.