HOBART, Ind. — Robert John "Bob" Estelle, 73, a longtime Hobart resident and writer-editor at the former Post-Tribune in Gary, died September 16 at St. Mary Medical Center after a long illness. He had lived at the Brickyard Golden Living Center in Portage, Ind., for the past two years.

He spent his career in journalism, starting at The Record in Port Jefferson, N.Y., and later worked at the Register-Herald of Beckley, W.Va., and the Journal-News in Martinsville, W.Va., before his arrival at the Post-Tribune in the mid-1990s.

He was born May 29, 1952, in Port Jefferson, N.Y., the son of John "Bob" and Shirley Estelle, and was a 1970 graduate of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in Port Jefferson and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1974). A longtime sportswriter, he also refereed high school matches in baseball, wrestling, football and basketball in Suffolk County, N.Y. He was a fan of music, with an extensive collection of early rock 'n' roll, jazz, classical and blues recordings.

He is survived by his brother, William J. Estelle (Lily) of Highland Falls, N.Y.; and his sisters Leanne Cornwell of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; Claudia Hutton (Joel Stashenko) of Albany, N.Y.; and Carol Southard (James) of Laurel, Md. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Interment will be private.