Born in Canada and raised in rural Iowa, Bob Roskamp grew up in a family of 10, where his solid values of sharing and helping others were instilled. His Master's Degree in Education and Administration from Loyola University in Chicago directed Roskamp to a teaching career for eight years before turning his talents to healthcare and developing specialized housing projects for disabled adults in the Chicago area.

Since coming to Florida in 1975, Roskamp has been a recognized leader in the development of numerous senior living communities from southwest Florida to southern California, including the Freedom Group, Inc. Roskamp founded and served as Chairman of the Board of the company, a national developer and manager of senior living communities, until it merged with the American Retirement Corporation in 1998.

With a passion for creating environments where people can make the most of their retirement years, it seemed natural for Roskamp to pursue his most grand and comprehensive of these endeavors in his "adopted home town" of Sarasota, Florida. Plans were designed for a magnificent resort-style campus, monumental in scale, yet refined to the most luxurious detail. And thus, Sarasota Bay Club came to life.

Beyond offering residents an entirely new dimension in luxurious retirement living, the building itself brings a new era of elegance to downtown Sarasota. Its Mediterranean-style architecture emulates that of the nearby Ringling Museum of Art and its lush tropical landscaping
incorporates historical oak trees and native plantings.

And as Sarasota Bay Club tastefully compliments its location in "the heart of the arts" it also compliments the area's master plan for a "renaissance" of the city's historic north corridor -- a plan that Roskamp himself has been instrumental in implementing. In fact, the area has benefited tremendously through the philanthropic efforts and community involvement of Roskamp and his wife, Diane. Projects like the Roskamp Center at the Ringling School of Art and Design and University of South Florida's Roskamp Research Laboratory bare their name. However, the list of benefactors from Roskamp Charities is long, and growing longer with each fulfilling year.