Monday, August 6, 2012

We Had to Say Good-bye

We lost someone special in our family this weekend. He was a quiet soul and a private person, and he certainly hated if anyone made a fuss over him. So this blog will do the same in honor of his life and to say good-bye. He once told me that the favorite part of his day was reading my blog and that he waited in anticipation of the next post. It was special to know that my stories touched him in this way, so I felt it was important to honor his memory here. Something tells me he would have enjoyed reading this...


His life was simple, yet exciting. He didn't have a lot of friends, but the ones he did have he held close for a lifetime. When he wasn't jumping out of airplanes or setting world records with his sky diving friends, he was enjoying a DVD from his vast collection. He was easy to please, rarely passed judgment, and never asked a soul for anything. For those he let close, he touched our hearts in ways he would never know.

We will miss you and your simple and kind heart. Rest in peace, love, rest in peace...






19 comments:

  1. So very sorry for your loss. I knew him from his Montana skydiving vacations. One of the nicest people I've ever met. Always a smile on his face... He's flying free now.

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  2. GOOD MAN GONE :(

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  3. Bob was such an easy person to like. He would come to Beverly, MA for training for work. I always enjoyed his visits and our conversations. He told me about his extensive DVD collection and how he carried a list so he wouldn't buy the same DVD twice. He talked about growing up in Dakota. I'm sadened by his passing. My condolences to his family. I believe he would have enjoyed the blog. In sympathy, Deb Frost

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  4. I did not know Bob personally, but am part of his Axcelis family and feel I do know him now after reading this touching blog. My deepest sympathy to Bob's family and friends that did know him...so sorry for your loss.

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  5. Bob was a fellow Extra class Ham Radio operator, callsign WP2J. I will miss him very much and Hams will remember this Silent Key.

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  6. He will be remembered.

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  7. I also did not know Bob personally, but as part of his Axcelis family I am sincerely sorry for the loss of such a wonderful man. His family will be in our thoughts and we pray that their grief is met with knowing that so many of his extended work family care. With deepest sympathies.

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  8. I am so very sorry to hear of Bob's passing. Bob has been a part of my Axcelis family since I started here. He was always very friendly and helpful and I will miss not seeing him at the factory. My condolences for you and the rest of his family.

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  9. I didn't know Bob very well (only talked with him a few times) but he seemed like such a nice person. Only the good die young; God calls home his favorites earlier.

    Rest in peace, Bob. Your days of suffering are over, and your days of endless skydiving and ultimate joy are just beginning.

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  10. I had the honor of knowing and working closely with Bob for the many years during which he worked at the Austin, TX plant of Eaton Semiconductor Equipment Operations. He was a quiet, technically competent, creative, inventive, and hard working person. He had a gentle personality and worked to bring people into friendship and mutual cooperation. The world is diminished by his absence. I pray that God grant peace and healing to all who loved and miss him. Jerry Dykstra, Ausin TX.

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  11. I also worked with Bob in Austin during the days of Eaton SEO. That was many years ago but I can clearly recall he was always friendly, accepting, and a comfortable person to work with. I certainly mourn his passing, and extend condolences to his friends and family.
    - Lauren Crane

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  12. I am another friend from Austin Eaton SEO. Bob was a constant - always friendly, always a pleasure to work with. I always think of Bob when I watch a skydiver - and I always will. My deepest sympathies to friends and family.
    -John Harlan

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  13. Rest in peace Bob,Ozzie Silva

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  14. I worked with Bob in Fishkill he was a good man and hard worker. We will miss him and my condolences go out to his family. Rest in peace Bob. John Capuano

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  15. I worked with Bob when he was with the Austin Field Service Office. We worked shiftwork together at Motorola/Freescale Mos-13. He was a kind and friendly man, and also a good hardworking technician. Bob sure loved to skydive, and he told me a few stories about his skydiving trips. We will all miss him at Axcelis. My sincere condolences go out to his family and close friends

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  16. Craig and Anna OdenbachAugust 13, 2012 at 1:33 PM

    We knew Bob from jumping and hanging out with him at Lost Prairie each year. Definitely one of the guys my wife and I looked forward to seeing and, in my case, jumping with each year. We will both miss seeing him there. Such a genuine, soft spoken guy.

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  17. As a friend of Bob's from his Skydiving world, I am so very saddened by his passing. There was a skydive held in his honor last weekend in Lost Prairie, Montana. It was beautiful and touching. I spent time with him in Nicaraagua this last March, and have been following his journey for the last year. I will miss him, his "Words with Friends" connection, and his gentle friendship,

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  18. I was one of his many skydiving frends, in your photos I am in his left hand.He was my room mate in Belize the last time we were there and spent time with him in Nicaraguar this year. I was honered to be on his missing man dive in Lost Prairie, the best dive if the boogie because he was there in all of us. He will be missed !

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  19. Hi. I met Bob at Lost Prairie in Montana, probably 1999 or so. I had the pleasure of seeing him every year there, and also in Belize, until about two years ago. A gentleman, a good person, a gift, a friend, a treasure, a delightful person, a Skydiver. I didn't make it to MT this year, but heard from others at LP that he had gone on ahead. Bob, I wish I had been able to give you a hug and a kiss, but I guess I'll just do that when I see you next time. I love you, sweetie. Really. I love you. But you already knew that. Fly free 'til I see you, and then you'll just have to "AFF" me into position. D.

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