DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710240160

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

                                            LENGTH:   67 lines

ROBERT VAKOS: PLANNING COMMMISSION CHAIR, INNKEEPER

Once a month you'll find Robert H. Vakos at the head of a long dais doing something that might give most people heartburn - chairing the Virginia Beach Planning Commission meetings.

Vakos, 48, takes pride in that job, a position he's held for nearly two years.

He led the group through nearly 18 months of deliberation and meetings on the city's Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint for future growth. He kept his colleagues on track and the meetings running smoothly, which isn't always easy when dealing with 11 individuals and a sometimes contentious plan.

He traveled recently to Alaska. After seeing a lot of sea life, he finally got a telescope look at a grizzly bear, which stood on a ridge about a mile away.

``We decided that was close enough,'' said Vakos, when the group learned grizzly bears weigh 1,000 pounds, run fast and eat meat, any meat.

Full name: Robert H. Vakos.

Hometown: Virginia Beach.

What brought you to the Beach? Parents - born in a house on the corner of 25th and Pacific Avenue.

Birthdate: June 29, 1949.

Occupation: Owned and operated the Colonial Inn Hotel for 26 years.

Nickname: Bobby.

Marital status: Married to Joan, going on 26 years

Children: Jaime, 17, and Scott, 14

What is your idea of a perfect day off? Any day at Carova Beach, N.C.

Last smart thing you did: Put an addition on our Carova house with a Jacuzzi on the third deck to view the magical sunsets.

Last dumb thing you did: See below: ``If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be?''

Favorite meal: Just about anything Joanie fixes except chicken livers! Ugh!

Favorite movies: ``Chariots of Fire,'' ``Forrest Gump.''

Favorite song: ``Fields of Gold'' by Sting; it reminds me of the wonderful landscapes of Ireland and Scotland.

Last book read: ``The Runaway Jury'' by John Grisham.

Hobbies: Changing the screen properties on my home computer. It drives Joanie crazy. Also, I try to spend as much time as possible on the water.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would like to be more personable with people.

If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be? Are you kidding? See above: ``Last dumb thing you did?''

Secret vice: Strawberry Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream. Mmmmmm.

Favorite restaurant: Aldo's.

Your favorite night on the town: I'm real easy - dinner and a movie and I'm happy.

Favorite TV shows: I have none, I am too busy channel surfing.

Favorite sport: NFL football: GO SKINS!

Last vacation: British Columbia and Alaska's Inner Passage.

Pets: Rascal and Baby - miniature wirehair Dachshunds; Kringle Gump and Jessie - chocolate Lab and Knott's Island mutt. They all live indoors, sleep in our bed and are generally treated better than me.

Worst job: Short order cook in a breakfast shop I owned for two summers. I was such a bad cook, I lost money both seasons.

Of what achievements are you most proud? Serving as chairman of the Planning Commission.

What would you like as your epitaph? He was a good father. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH

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