ROBERT JAMES OZRETICH

March 28, 1947 -
January 13, 2018

Robert "Bob" James Ozretich, 70, of Corvallis, was killed by a motorist while working on a volunteer road cleanup crew near Philomath, Oregon on the morning of Saturday, January 13, 2018.

His sudden death was shocking and painful news for his family, his friends, his colleagues and acquaintances, and his community. Bob Ozretich was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was a strong, multifaceted force for good in his community.

Robert James Ozretich was born in Mount Vernon, WA on March 28, 1947, the third son of Jerry Ozretich, a teacher at Lincoln Elementary school in Mount Vernon, and Valerie MacLachlan, a Registered Nurse and Homemaker.

Bob graduated from Mount Vernon High school in 1965. Following graduation from Seattle University in 1969 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Physical Science, Bob attended the University of Washington where he obtained his doctorate in Oceanography in 1976.

While at the University of Washington in Seattle, Bob met fellow Oceanography graduate student Rachel Martin. They fell in love and were married in Mount Vernon, Washington on June 23rd, 1973. Bob and Rachel were blessed with their first son Robin in 1979, and their second son Reed in 1984.

In 1980, Bob started his career with the Environmental Protection Agency in Newport, Oregon as an Analytical Chemist studying pollutants in ocean sediments around the Pacific Northwest. In 1983 Bob and his family moved to Corvallis, Oregon. After commuting to his job in Newport 4 days a week for 19 years, Bob moved to the EPA in Corvallis as a Quality Assurance Manager.

Bob loved the outdoors, and throughout his life he could be found fishing the rivers and streams of Oregon and Washington, frequently accompanied by his father and brothers, and later his sons and grandchildren. Bob could seem quite serious most of the time, but he had a quietly warm demeanor with a subtle sense of humor and frequently made his family and friends laugh.

Bob was a passionate activist on behalf of numerous causes, including international cooperation and world peace, human rights and equality, taking money out of politics, environmentalism and climate action. Bob was a leader in the activist groups World Federalist Society/Citizens for Global Solutions, Move to Amend, and he was active in the Benton County Democratic Party after he retired from the EPA. He was also involved in a number of volunteer efforts in his community.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Pat.

He is survived by his wife Rachel Ozretich of Corvallis; son Robin Ozretich and his wife Leilah Parker of Corvallis; his son Reed Ozretich and his wife Naomi Ozretich of Dollar, Scotland; his two granddaughters, Marguerite and Evelyn Ozretich of Corvallis, and one grandson, Ruaridh Ozretich of Dollar, Scotland.

He is also survived by his brother, Tom Ozretich of Mount Vernon, WA.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, January 28 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Corvallis Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 2945 NW Circle Blvd.

Donations in Bob's memory may be made to the Corvallis/Albany NAACP, the South Corvallis Food Pantry, and the Corvallis Men's Shelter.