I had not seen Robbi Lepre for many years when I ran into her at the 2018 IAAPA Expo in Orlando while I was taking photos for TEA. Even though we had not really been good about keeping in touch, she remembered me right away with a warm smile and hug.
We had first met when she was Entertainment Director at Busch Gardens Tampa in 2012. I was working on a story about the projection mapping used in the park’s new ice skating show. Being a former ice skater, zamboni driver and theme park fan I had a barrage of technical questions, and she suffered gladly through all of them.
Robbie was also somewhat of a legend in the haunted attractions industry, being instrumental in the development of the Howl-O-Scream event at Busch Gardens.
On June 2nd Robbi’s husband, Russell Lepre, announced on social media that Robbi had passed away the night before:
“She did not suffer. She is in a better place with no pain and suffering. I am proud to have been her husband for 34 years. Her daughters are grieving in their own way. I am, too. I loved her dearly and was always very proud of her.”
The industry, including InPark Magazine, misses and will always remember Robbi Lepre.
-Martin Palicki
