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Robert Hopkins Lee Passed away in the loving arms of his wife, January 8th, 2012. Born to Aubrey Ferrell Lee and Lillian Sherwood Hopkins, Bob was a graduate of The Tamalpais School for Boys in San Rafael. Bob excelled in all the sports and was a gifted writer for the Tamalero. He wrote and composed music and wrote poetry. During World War II, he attended University of California naval officer training program in Berkeley and then transferred to The Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, as a midshipman in 1945. He resigned in 1947, midshipman, 3rd class, was honorably discharged and married Elizabeth Ann Dolan. She preceded him in death. Bob's son Dennis Lee and daughter Maureen Wool preceded him in death. To support his family, Bob worked for Bechtel Corporation, followed by Tidewater Oil Company, designing service stations, where he was a chief designer. He then worked for Parker Engineering and in 1966 decided to open his own company Robert H. Lee & Associates specializing in designing service stations for oil companies. Bob had a keen sense of beauty and during tough times when the oil embargo slowed his business he designed and made semiprecious jewelry, which he sold to Gumps. Bob was always most inventive and original thinker. He tried selling car washes and invented an onion peeling machine. When he retired 1993, RHL had four offices. Bob was fair, generous and kind to all his employees. He always encouraged everyone to stay positive. Bob was a longtime resident of Larkspur where he was a member and a chairman of Larkspur Planning Commission, member and a vice mayor of the Larkspur City Council. He was involved in restoration and development of a Marin landmark, The Remillard Brick Co. named a State Historic Landmark and was instrumental having it placed on National Registry of Historic places. Bob always thought of others, was most compassionate, thoughtful and giving person. He saved The Remillard Superintendent's Cottage, thus providing its new lease on life as a The Children's Cottage Co-Op. After retiring Bob couldn't repress his inventiveness and a strong sense of design and beauty so he remodeled a home and designed a log home. He especially enjoyed picking up unusual light fixtures and designing huge windows so he could see the outdoors. He loved snow shoeing and seeing tracks of wild animals in the snow. Often, while sitting in the back yard he was surrounded by sleeping deer, just a few feet away from his chair, he would say; "People wouldn't believe this. " As a young boy, Bob learned to appreciate classic cars from his uncle Billy. He was a member of the Classic Car Club of America, Oregon Region of Packards and a proud owner of 1938 Packard, model 1604, coupe, which he called his Carole Lombard car. Bob loved performing arts, galleries and museums. He looked forward to growing heirloom tomatoes every summer and loved fixing things around the house with his ever present drill while listening to 30's and 40's Big Band music. Bob was a loving father and is survived by son Robert C. Lee, daughter Laura Lee and five granddaughters. Bob loved good food, good wine and good company. Life will be so sad without his quick wit and good sense of humor which he retained to the end. Words cannot express how deeply he is missed by his best friend and wife of twenty five years. Lord willing, we'll meet again, I don't know where or when. Till then, may angels in heaven take good care of you, as you always did of me. Goodbye, my darling, never far my heart. As requested by Bob there will not be services.
Published in Marin Independent Journal on February 12, 2012
