My interactions with Bob were few, but they were memorable, and they fit in well with the characterization of him I have seen over the last few days as a unique and extraordinary individual who will greatly be missed. While working on Willamette's Collegian newspaper, I met with Bob on a number of occasions. So many times I would come in with a set of questions prepared to ask him, but often he would convince me to chuck my interview plan altogether. This was the power of his ability to delight, surprise, and go far above and beyond what was expected or hoped for. Bob always made me feel invited, welcome, and part of a process that was greater than just an interaction between an interviewer and a subject. If he wasn't the best source for a story, he would always point out three or four other people to go and talk to. One never left his office without at least a couple of new ideas for stories that the staff or I hadn't yet thought of. Bob never needed to be solicited for ideas--they always flowed freely and naturally from our conversations.

Sometimes the Collegian would solicit Bob for interviews, but often he would seek us out, a rare step for a busy administrator to take, but one which clearly was not out of character for him. For example, each year, without fail, he attended the Collegian staff introductory meetings, often held in a sweltering third-floor office in the University Center in the middle of the innumerable activities Campus Life coordinated before Opening Days. Not only did he attend, but he always spoke to the staff about the Collegian's history, answered questions, and never was short of story ideas for us.

Bob was especially excited for the Collegian to become an integral part of the process of disseminating knowledge about Kaneko Commons, where I was privileged to be among the first year of students to reside. I remember being greeted by Bob out front of the not-quite-finished building on moving day in the fall of 2006. On a 90-degree afternoon, he stood outside in the parking lot for hours, meeting with every student who arrived that day. Later that fall, as we struggled to dig ourselves out of a financial trough, Bob offered gracious and unprecedented financial support for a much-needed upgrade of Collegian office hardware and software. As I transitioned to new management duties on the paper that year, I saw less and less of Bob in person, but I know he remained a constant supporter of the paper, because his name kept popping up in the weekly copies!

I saw Bob only twice after graduation, but they were classic encounters. At one point, I was working at Powell's Books in Portland when he came in. I was surprised and delighted at Bob's recollection of me, his warmth, and his spirit, none of which had diminished despite the time that had gone by since our paths last crossed. In November of 2008, while waiting to meet Ken Nolley at the Bistro, who do I see cracking good-natured jokes about how some alumni just keep hanging around? The Hawk, of course. He'd be glad to know that I finally moved on to pursue my dreams, but he'll have to wait for that story for awhile, unfortunately.

I regret not knowing Bob as well as did as many of the other contributors to this blog, and that I will be unable to attend either of the services planned in his honor. So I feel this is the least I can do to remember a compassionate man who frequently challenged and brought out the best in those with whom he interacted. As any of us who have dealt with or know anything about mass media understand, the interaction between a newspaper and its subjects can sometimes be difficult, even one of gamesmanship. Never with Bob. No matter the context, he was genuine, compassionate, and he truly cared about the community he worked in--every part of that community. He will be greatly missed.

Chris Foss,
PhD Candidate, University of Colorado at Boulder
Willamette Class of 2007

Thank you for letting me know about Bob's passing and sending the obit.  I do remember him fondly.  He was my favorite teacher at UCSC, so knowledgeable and inspiring.  I so enjoyed his classes that I took it upon myself to dump my advisor, asking Bob to be my advisor instead!  When I had the bright idea to do a self-designed internship, working for one of the
Supervisors on the City Council in SF, it was Bob that I sought as my advisor for that semester.  It was one of my best college decisions. I was sad to see him leave UCSC, but at the time was exploring that same option.

Marianne McGinn