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Robert Oakley Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert Oakley
Susan Byrne DeKleine
August 8, 2008
Dear Barbara, Esther and Daniel:
I went to high school with Bob and we saw on Classmates that we lived not too far from each other. Would get together every now and then, to talk about the good old days.
Bob, with great love, talk about his children and his concerns when they traveled abroad.
Barbara, I'm so happy that he found love again, even if it was for a brief time.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Timothy Coggins
October 24, 2007
I always admired and respected Bob Oakley for his never-ending contributions and commitment to law librarianship and his dedication to advocacy on behalf of library users. His work with copyright, public access to government information and other issues helped us maintain the access to information that our library users need. I will miss Bob tremendously, and my sincerest sympathies go to Barbara, his children, and his colleagues at Georgetown Law Center Libraries.
Denise Stewart
October 19, 2007
I have such appreciation for the time I was given over the last few years to work with Bob at Georgetown. What a delightful, warm and incredibly intelligent man. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.
W. Scott Nainis
October 18, 2007
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Oakley. I met Bob in 1983, and remember him for his intellect, wit and passion for what he did in realm of law librarianship. My condolences to his wife and also his children and past wife. I am sure that all will miss him.
Esther Gillie
October 17, 2007
Dear Barbara;
My heart is with you as you walk through these difficult days of loss and sorrow. Bob was a much beloved man who will be missed by so many. It is perhaps some small comfort that his tremendous contributions to his field will ensure him a perpetual place in time and memory. Life will not be the same without him.
Dan Derkics
October 12, 2007
I was stunned to read about Bob's passing. He was a terrific guy with a great sense of humor and a joy to share the daily commute via CB radio with the "Canal Street Bums". Our deepest condolences on behalf of the "Bums" and "Rollin' Doughnut" (me), "Speakeasy" (my wife), and "Rollin' Easy" (a handle Bob bestowed on my daughter, Katie, shortly after her birth).
Jeff Strandberg
October 8, 2007
Terrific guy, a friend who shared common interests. Who else would duck out of a library convention in a distant city for a hamfest?
73 OM de K0UU sk
Patricia Cervenka
October 8, 2007
My sympathies to family members. Bob will be missed in so many ways. He certainly was an inspiration by his dedication to helping us solve information policy problems in Washington. I have always respected the professional advice he gave me fifteen years ago.
Tiffani Conner
October 6, 2007
Barbara,
I am so sorry to hear about Bob's untimely passing. Although I only met him once, I remember him as a true gentleman--calm, patient and genuine. My condolences to you during this difficult time.
Tiffani
Cornell Winston
October 5, 2007
Bob Oakley was truly a giant in the law library community. I appreciated his calm demeanor, wise counsel, and willingness to help other librarians. You could always count on Bob to see the big picture, yet also be able to handle the minute particulars.
My sympathies are extended to his wife Barbara, and his two children. Bob will be missed by all those who worked with him and the law librarian community.
Pamela Gregory
October 5, 2007
Dear Barbara, Esther and Daniel, Your husband and father was one of the giants of our profession. He was always approachable and cared deeply for the goals and wishes of all types of librarians, in all types of libraries. He was a civil libertarian, and a person who cared deeply about access to justice issues. I was privileged to call him a friend, and he shared unstintingly. He was an example to us all, and will be truly, sadly, missed. Sincerely
Pamela Gregory, Director Emerita,
Prince George's County Law Library
Ruth Hill
October 5, 2007
Bob's untimely death is a great loss to our profession. I remember Bob as a compassionate person with a kind word for all and always willing to be an advocate for our profession. I am most grateful for the time he took to write the Foreword for our book, Celebrating Diversity. What he wrote made me want to read the book!
He will be missed. My deepest sympathies to the Oakley Family and to Bob's Georgetown Family.
Evelyn Beard
October 4, 2007
I will miss you at AALL Meetings
Bob Weiner
October 4, 2007
It is with deepest regret and fond memories that I learn of the passing of Bob Oakley.
We didn't always see eye-to-eye and on occasion had some interesting discussions about copyright but throughout our relationship he was always a gentleman whose company I thoroughly enjoyed. My most sincere condolences to his family.
Dolores Estrada
October 4, 2007
I am deeply saddened by the news of Bob's passing. My condolences to the family. He was a great boss who made my first job out of college a great experience.
Amy Hale-Janeke
October 4, 2007
Bob was a wonderful role model who demonstrated that one can be a major D.C. player and shape national legislation without sacrificing civility and kindness. I know his advocacy work will be sorely missed by all of us.
I got to know him somewhat when we worked together on an AALL-approved amicus brief submitted to protest the shuttering of Florida's prison law libraries. He was a genuine, warm, kind person with a razor sharp mind and a gentle sense of humor. I am grateful for his example and role in law librarianships. My condolences to his friends and family.
Laura Bedard
October 4, 2007
Bob was my first and only boss, and he was the best. He was my mentor, my leader, my friend, always urging me to keep on learning, but also to give back. He built a great library, and a serious rare books collection, as well as a busy Law Center Archives. He found a permanent home for the National Equal Justice Library, and saved legal information in paper and digital formats through LIPA and the Cheasapeake Project, for generations to come. He was there for me as a librarian, but also as a friend through my illness, and always urged me to get well and come back. I will always miss him.
Barbara, his love for you will always shine through.
Virginia Kelsh
October 3, 2007
I am so shocked and saddened to hear of Bob Oakley's untimely death. I
had the privilege of membership with Bob in the AJCU Law Libraries'
group. This group had wonderful luncheon gatherings at AALL and AALS
meetings where I enjoyed Bob's wit and wisdom. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues.
Nina Platt
October 3, 2007
Bob made a difference in every life he touched through his work as a law librarian, advocate, and to those who knew him personally. I will miss him but will remember how he made a difference for me. He challenged us all to be better than we were.
Jennifer Marshall Pesetsky
October 3, 2007
As the founder of the Gen X / Gen Y caucus, I had the pleasure of meeting Bob twice. He came to our meetings at the AALL conference and was so excited to see a new generation of law librarians stepping forward. He mostly sat in our meetings quietly - listening to our discussions with such a happy gleam in his eye. He told me many times how happy it made him to attend those meetings with the newer generations of law librarians.
Kate Stacey
October 3, 2007
Bob was in inspiration and a wonderful leader. He will truly be missed. Even though it has been 20 years since I worked for him, I remember his leadership and great personality so fondly. My condolences to his family, and the the "family" at Georgetown Law Library.
Steve Anderson
October 3, 2007
Bob was truly a great man. I looked up to him for guidance, leadership, wisdom, kindness. Seldom does one meet a person who embodies so many positive qualities. Bob was very much a mentor to me. He inspired me to become more informed about so many aspects of law librarianship: digital preservation, information policy, copyright law and leadership. Bob left the profession a remarkable and wonderful gift--a changed landscape where every law librarian is more knowledgeable about these important issues. He also left another important legacy--our warm memories of working with him. His spirit will be with me forever.
Jim McCue
October 3, 2007
The initial e-mail subject heading led me to believe that perhaps Bob was retiring and that they were beginning to collect personal memories. Only upon opening the message was I shocked beyond belief. I would have known Bob thirty years this June as we were in the very last workshop to be let out at the 1978 AALL Institute in Baffalo. His Director at Cornell, Jane Hammond, had patiently waited for him and, fortunately for me, drove us both back to the hotel. Over the years I looked forward to seeing Bob at AALL. He was a great law librarian and advocate for the profession and a wonderful person. My sympathies and prayers go out to his family and his colleagues who have suffered this terrible loss.
Ruth Bridges
October 2, 2007
I had the honor of working under Bob Oakley for five years at Georgetown. What I learned is how to be a professional Librarian. From Bob Oakley I learned that giving back to my profession is an obligation and privilege. I love being a Law Librarian and Bob Oakley showed me how to do it with class.
Isabel Paul
October 2, 2007
Bob Oakley will be sorely missed by everyone who had the oppportunity and the privilege of working with him. His contributions to the profession of Law Librarianship and his advocacy of the Freedom of Information will never by forgotten.
Mary Ann Nelson
October 2, 2007
I had the pleasure of working with him when I chaired the GD-SIS. He was a very kind man. He will be missed by the profession.
Kate Martin
October 2, 2007
Bob Oakley was a true giant of law librarianship who made a palpable difference to the profession. He was a warm and generous colleague -- he will be mightily missed.
Allen Moye
October 2, 2007
I am deeply saddened to hear of Bob's passing. Intelligent, kind and generous with his time and talents; he touched and influenced so many people. My condolences to the Oakley family and the Georgetown community.
Katie Brown
October 2, 2007
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Derek Jones
October 2, 2007
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Dwight King
October 2, 2007
We have lost a tremendous leader in the field of law librarianship. I am grateful for the professional opportunities Bob gave me. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Rhea Ballard-Thrower
October 2, 2007
Bob was a mentor for many new academic library directors and a driving force behind the DC area academic law library directors group. He will be missed.
Ron Wheeler
October 2, 2007
The word that comes to mind when I think of Bob Oakley is "inspired." His work, his writings, his actions were inspired, and they also inspired greatness in others. Although we were only acquaintances, Bob always made time to speak or to share small kindnesses whenever we ran into each other. My condolences to everyone at Georgetown and to his family.
Bob at the Botanic Gardens near the Prado, Madrid, Spain, April 2007
October 2, 2007
Bob near Sedona, AZ, May 2006
October 2, 2007
Esther, Barbara, Daniel, and Bob on Barbara and Bob's Wedding Day
October 2, 2007
Filippa Marullo Anzalone
October 1, 2007
Bob Oakley was a lovely, intelligent, creative man. Legal education,and law librarianship in particular,has lost one of its stars. Bob has left us with so many professional and personal legacies. Although he will not be forgotten, we will miss him among us. My sympathy to his family and to the folks at Georgetown. Peace, Filippa Marullo Anzalone
Carol Nicholson
October 1, 2007
We have lost a national treasure and a treasured friend. In addition to Bob’s tireless efforts on behalf of AALL and his extraordinary intelligence, warmth and humor; Bob’s impact on legal information will live on through his inspired leadership in the founding of the Legal Information Preservation Alliance. As AALL's first minority president, his support for diversity in AALL and the George A. Strait Minority Scholarship Endowment fund are also very special memories to me. We'll miss you, Bob.
Lolly Gasaway
October 1, 2007
Dear Barbara,
Bob was a dear friend and a wonderful colleague. I loved working with him on a variety of issues and will miss him very much. He was a leader in law librarianship and I admired him tremendously. My thoughts are with you.
Ruth Fraley
October 1, 2007
Sincere sympathy to family and friends. He made a difference.
Mary Lu Linnane
October 1, 2007
I had the great honor of serving on the AALL Board with Bob. I always sought him out at each meeting, if only for a few minutes, to touch base and find out how he was doing. He was a truly wonderful person and his passing is a loss on many levels. His contributions to and impact on the profession of law librarianship are impressive, but most impressive was his affect on everyone with whom he interacted.
Kathie Sweeney
October 1, 2007
My condolences to his family. The world has lost another good man. Bob will certainly be missed by many.
Charles Dyer
October 1, 2007
As one of the many law librarians heavily involved in legislative advocacy at the state level due to our needs to protect our budgets, I know how deep was Bob's commitment to advocacy on behalf of the right to access to legal information. He worked many times harder and more wisely than any of us, and from altruistic motives alone. Yet, he always maintained an affable manner and willingness to work with anyone. He was truly one of the finest representatives of our profession to the world at large, and we will miss him.
Anne Myers
October 1, 2007
Bob was a remarkable man and a joy to work with and know. He was wise and funny, insightful and compassionate, and his eloquence and clarity gave him the platform he so richly deserved. I had the great pleasure of working with Bob as an AALL board member and will cherish the memories of his "capsule updates" as well as his great sense of fun. He is irreplaceable.
Tom Pulver
October 1, 2007
I will miss you and your great help to me in past years for legislative information. Thanks.
Greg Fite
October 1, 2007
Bob Oakley was a stalwart for our profession, a tireless advocate whose work ensured that the public would have access to governmental information essential to a democracy. People have no idea how much we owe to Bob Oakley.
As a long-time member of AALL, I join with others in mourning his passing and send my warmest wishes to his family and colleagues.
Kelly Browne
October 1, 2007
I am shocked and so very sorry for AALL's and Bob's family's loss. Bob was always very kind to me. He has done so much for us all.
Cheryl Nyberg
October 1, 2007
Bob was a warm, joyful person who was dedicated to his library and his profession. I admired his thoughtful intelligence and commitment and I enjoyed his ready laugh and generous spirit. I sympathize with his family and others who knew him well or only a little. He was a great guy--one of the best--and I will miss him for a long, long time.
Michael Slinger
October 1, 2007
It was my honor to know Bob. He was truly one of the giants of law librarianship. He was a fine person. We will all miss him.
My condolences to his family.
Michael Slinger
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Monica Ortale
October 1, 2007
He will be missed! My condolences to the Oakley family.
Melissa Barr
October 1, 2007
What a wonderful man. He will be sorely missed.
Ellen Callinan
October 1, 2007
Barbara, Esther and Daniel,
Bob gave so much to the profession that he will leave both a remarkable legacy and a painful void. We will always be grateful for the time we had with him.
Our loss pales in comparison to yours, but know that you were the source of his greatest pride and happiness.
Bob was my boss, my mentor and my friend. I will miss him deeply.
Julie Noland
October 1, 2007
Your work was an inspiration to us all. You will be missed.
Brian L. Baker
October 1, 2007
I am stunned.
Bob’s passing is a blow to Georgetown, to AALL, and to the Law Library community in DC. Bob was very supportive of staff involvement in both AALL and in LLSDC. Bob was extremely helpful to me during my term as President of LLSDC.
I am stunned and saddened.
David McFadden
October 1, 2007
For all of us in legislative advocacy, Bob was so special. He has done so much for law librarians, librarians in general and others with his hard work.
Kathie Sullivan
October 1, 2007
Barbara, Esther, and Daniel: Bob meant the world to those of us who had the privilege and honor of working with him in AALL. I was the program chair for the Minneapolis meeting during his presidency and I'll never forget the joy of working with him. The loss is too much...he will be in our hearts and minds forever.
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