September 19, 1936 - January 8, 2024
Bradenton, Florida - Professor Tisdale was born in Williamsburg County South Carolina. He served in the United States Navy, obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Newberry College in 1961, and completed his Master's Degree in International Relations from the University of South Carolina in 1965. Professor Tisdale taught political science, international relations and comparative government at Manatee (Junior) Community College in Bradenton, Florida for 47 years. He loved teaching and discussing politics with his students and family and was known for his colorful, mock political rallies he would organize with his students. He also loved world travel, hunting, preserving nature, and telling stories about his youth and growing up in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina.
One of Professor Tisdale's highest honors was to be selected as a delegate to the 1985 People to People International Delegation to the People's Republic of China. On this diplomatic mission, Professor Tisdale delivered a paper on the subject of "Recent Developments in the Teaching of Political Science in the United States" to the University of Peking, the Chinese Institute of Political Science, Peking; and the Ministry of Education, Peking.
He is predeceased by his Father, Varnie Clifton Tisdale; Mother, Kathleen (Thelma) Tisdale; and sister, Carol (Tisdale) Sanders.
He is survived by his wife, Barry Puett (Bradenton, FL); his first wife, Mary Ann (Watkins) Tisdale (originally of Newberry, SC); his second wife, Susan M. Zimmer (Tampa); sons: Laurie Clifton Tisdale (Georgia); Joseph Watkins Tisdale (Tampa); Robert Paul Tisdale (Los Angeles); and Barry Powers "Jack" Puett (Bradenton, FL).
Robert C. Tisdale was laid to rest at the Tisdale Family Cemetery in Kingstree, South Carolina on January 14, 2024.
