Robert Charles Irvin

Robert Charles Irvin passed away on October 1, 2026, after a courageous fight with cancer.

Robb’s story is a tale of two lives: the first marked by tragedy and struggle, and the second by success and community. He lost his father at the age of 10, dropped out of school at 12, became a father at 17, and faced hardship through his early 20s. But as his life progressed, he found success through martial arts.

Robb was a member of the 1997 U.S. National Team and trained for two months at Yong In University in Seoul, South Korea, in 1998. In 1999, he founded Team Players Taekwondo, a staple of the Hilliard community for nearly 25 years. His instruction extended beyond taekwondo, as he trained numerous military members and law enforcement officers in combative techniques and situational awareness.

His work at Team Players was about more than just sport. Robb influenced the lives of the thousands of students he taught, instilling confidence, courage, humility, and discipline. More importantly, he created a community and laid the foundation for hundreds of lifelong friendships.

Robb was larger than life. He was over the top—grandiose and hyperbolic. He would entrance you with tales of his life that were so exaggerated, you struggled to distinguish truth from myth. His two lives were always intertwined as he battled to move on from his past. Despite it all, he spent his last days surrounded by family who cared for him as he fought bravely.

Robb’s legacy lives on in the friendships forged through the community he built, the confidence and discipline he gave to kids who struggled, and the camaraderie created through training and competing day in and day out. Our hope is that he has finally found the peace he sought in life.

Robb is survived by his longtime partner, Lori Hicks; his sons, Justin Booth, Daniel Hicks, and Tyler Hicks; his daughter, Madalyn Irvin; and his countless loved ones, including his brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and community of students. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Louis Irvin, and his mother, Beatrice Noseworthy.

A celebration of life will be held on October 10, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hannah Park (6547 Clark State Road, Gahanna, Ohio 43230). In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Save a Warrior or Mount Carmel Hospice, two organizations that were meaningful in Robb’s life.