Home / Poker News September 2009 / Tribute to Bob Stupak R.I.P.
Tribute to Bob Stupak R.I.P.
Posted by: James Carter. - Wed, 2009-09-30 11:16
Bob Stupak's contribution to Las Vegas, to gambling, and to poker was multi-faceted, and with his passing he will remain in each of our memories for a different reason.
Bob Stupak lost his long battle with Leukaemia last Friday at the age of 67, his loss will be felt across Vegas and across the casino and poker world. Stupak is a legend in his own right, be it as hotel owner, a media magnet, a WSOP bracelet winner, or a unique character.
As a hotel owner, Stupak worked hard for the Stratosphere Hotel, all 1,149 feet of it. He was a true old boy of Vegas, to the last refusing to coin the phrase "Gaming", preferring to stick with "gambling", and that was a favourite interest of his. He didn't restrict himself to just the casinos and poker rooms of Vegas though, oh no, he made the headlines on more than one occasion with rather more unusual bets. For example, rumour has it, that Stupak once bet Donald Trump a million dollars on the outcome of a board game – Trump reportedly refuse. It was this unusual, grasping of life with both hands that bought Stupak the reputation of a down to earth bloke with an eccentric twist.
In 1989 Stupak won a WSOP bracelet for the $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event, and following a near-fatal motorbike accident in the mid 1990s Stupak made an effort to channel his talents into community benefit projects, amongst them a community centre.
Bob Stupak was well loved by those who knew him personally, and those who knew him only by reputation. The Stratosphere Hotel will go on for ever, but every time it's spied it's founder will be missed; one less giant on the Vegas skyline.
