​From:

Loralee Clark

When he learned I was to be an observer aboard Soviet trawlers, he gave me tapes of Russian composers to take with me to play on my "boom box". This enabled mini concerts in my cabin, attended by emotional new Russian friends. (Neither Bob nor I anticipated the younger guys who wanted American rock music.) Bob was very supportive too,when I struggled with the terror of my first year of law school. A good man to his little sister in law.

 

 

From:

Linda ClarkBaker

Remembering the delight with which Bob shared his music collection and his very clever storage system. He was a cool and gracious man.

 

 

From:

Beth Leleck

I had the pleasure of first meeting Bob at a flyball tournament with Mariah. He was so friendly, and also very intent on learning all about how the game was played - he even sat in as an assistant judge for much of the weekend! I wasn't sure he'd even remember who I was after that weekend, but it touched my heart when Mariah found a picture of us on that weekend that he'd kept at his home in Panama. Yet another adventure on his list of many, learning to play flyball with his daughter and her goofy dog friends in Colorado one summer. :)

 

From:

Donna Tatting

Bob's favorite activity with our Master Gardener group was staffing our location at the Almelund Threshing Show in Almelund, MN. He'd bring his favorite reference materials with him prepared to answer any and all questions that came his way. His unique ability to name and explain any insect or plant by all of it's scientific associations, was a wonder to behold. We would kid Bob and he always took it with grace and humor. To honor and remember Bob, this summer we will plant a tree next to our Almelund Master Gardener home on the Threshing Grounds. We miss you Bob and are grateful we got the chance to share some of life's journey with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From:

Mary Kay Thomas

Mariah and my daughter were friends in grade school and so that is when I first met Bob. It was always special to go to their house at Christmas time and listen to good music on Bob's special system. There was always a project happening with remodeling the house or the gardens, planting or tearing down.... but Bob always made time for his friends. Summers, Bob would stop at our house after church and if we were planting the garden, he would offer suggestions. It always ended with coffee and plans for dinner later. Bob would bring the wine from his cellar. There is a catalpa tree in our yard that Bob gave us as a small plant in a pot the year after we had 2 trees uprooted. This is the 3rd year since it was planted and it is slow to come to life each spring but it does and each year it has grown a bit taller and with more leaves. Watching it and caring for it is a special reminder of a special friend who will always be in our hearts.

 

 

From:

Colleen LeBlanc

Memories Made with Bob Each time I walk on the north side of our house, I see the dogwood bushes Bob recommended we plant there. I think of him. I believe the first time Bob and I met was on a very, very very, cold, crisp winter's day in Cambridge, MN about 35 years ago. He was part of the Rum River Runner's group volunteering to time cross country skiers. My husband was doing the same, and I was there as the school district's Community Education Director also timing skiers. Through the running club we started a friendship and Bob would join our family for New Year's Eve and all of our party events as well as dinner gatherings. Our friendship consisted of many hours of discussion on a diversity of subjects. He is one of the only people I have known with whom I could have a healthy political discussion! We visited Bob's beautiful "arboretum" often, heard stories of his master gardener adventures, sailing and traveling experiences. We poured over his traveling maps, and talked many hours about his boat, t-shirt design and how he managed getting parts only available in the USA for a boat sitting in Panama. We experienced the expansion of and renovation of his home and the building of the condo in Panama. He shared his dream to make his beautiful Cambridge place into a safe place for abused women. He was appalled at how women are sometimes treated. We talked reading, and he showed me how he made notes in his daily reminder calendar book on everything he read. We ate and drank wine often with him. I quizzed him on his love life and he ended up volunteering interesting information. We exchanged photos. He encouraged me when I had my transplant. He encouraged me with my bicycling endeavors. We had plans to spend time with him in Panama in November. We had plans to meet him in New Zealand once he got that far on his trip in his boat around the world. He kept track of what our children were doing and when the grandchildren arrived, he followed them also. His yearly Christmas cards, the overnights (he only needed about four hours of sleep a night), frequent e-mails and phone conversations were always fun. I have many of his cards with notes, and photos of our meetings. He shared his books with us, and his wonderful music collection. He had it all catalogued. He helped us select landscaping plants and served as our own personal garden consultant. We often enjoyed cooking with him. He had his life goals posted right on the wall to the left of his stove. He shared his wine cellar, rose garden, guest rooms, attic collections. Best of all he shared his incredible mind, his laughter and smiles and his caring friendship. We loved him dearly and hold him forever in our hearts.