Photo courtesy of Henry Funeral Home
1940 - 2017 (Age 77)
Bob was a great colleague and inspirational actor. I think of him often. His great poster for my theatrical production of the premiere of Max Forseter's musical adaptation of Jay Frankston's short story, "A Christmas Story" -- re-titled "Dear Santa", hangs on my study's wall. And still brings me smiles.
Sorely missed. Via con Dios hombre.
Lee Edmundson
June 14, 2025 | Mendocino, CA | Friend
Bob was my Major Magnus in a production of Tom Stoppard's play "The Real Inspector Hound" I directed out here in the 1980s. He was a delight. Audacious, funny, over the top (as the play required). Many after performance parties at his and Amanda's house. One in a lifetime kind of guy. I hope Amanda and their daughter are doing AOK.
Lee Edmundson
June 15, 2024 | Mendocino, CA
Wonderful man we need more people like him in this world
Scott Ballin
June 14, 2024 | Deerfield, VA | Friend
I am sorry for your loss. I would have loved to have met him. I purchased one of his pieces of art called "Friends" It is one of my favorites. He was so talented and by the looks seemed like a really honest, genuine sincere man- F. Gonzalez
Fatma Gonzalez
June 15, 2023
Bob is truly missed. He was and still is an inspiration! Scott Ballin
Scott Ballin
June 14, 2023 | Deerfield, VA | Friend
Bob s spirit is still strongly felt.
Scott and Peggy Ballin
June 14, 2019 | Deerfield, VA | Friend
My husband and I had the honor of having Odd Bob officiate at our tiny wedding on the Mendocino Headlands on Thanksgiving Day over 30 years ago, generously giving up part of his holiday for our sake. He chose the perfect spot (we lived out of the area then). We had no knowledge of what he would say ahead of time, yet his ceremony couldn't have been more beautiful and perfect if we had written it ourselves. He quoted Gibran, of course, and had brought a silver bowl and goblet, from which we...
Laura & Don Lind & Taylor
July 12, 2017 | Fort Bragg, CA
I did not know Bob personally, but have read quite a bit about him recently, as he was a consistent supporter of his alma mater (and my employer), California College of the Arts. We love to see our alumni stay involved in the school and are so appreciative of Bob's consistent contributions over the years. I only wish I could have gotten to know Bob in person; he seems to have been a deeply talented and truly effusive man. On behalf of the School and the larger arts community in the San...
Carolyn Salcido
July 06, 2017 | San Francisco, CA
1976 Mendocino Unified School District - Yearbook
Bob was a wonderful, smart and creative guy. He served with me on the Mendocino Unified School District Board of Trustees for several years. I would have been happy if he could have stayed on the Board more years as he was a great Trustee. When negotiating with teachers, staff and the community for what was best for our kids, we sometimes had quite successful chats ("meetings") at the Sea Gull Cellar Bar, accompanied by one of his own drink concoctions that he labeled - "The Mendocino...
Hildrun-Uta Triebess
July 01, 2017 | Sedona (formerly Of Elk, CA), AZ
ROBERT N. AVERY, JR.
SWOOPE, VA…
Robert Newell Avery Jr. died on June 19, 2017 at his home in Swoope, VA. Born in Evanston, Illinois, on May 22, 1940, Bob was a man of many talents: an artist, a Jazz DJ, an actor and producer in films and on stage, a restaurant and gallery owner, and an arts administrator. He was an illustrator and sculptor who was the director of the Mendocino Art Center in California and the Staunton Augusta Art Center in Virginia. His Avery Studio Gallery was in the space that is now Zynadoa Restaurant.
Robert was a member of the California National Guard in the 1950s and 60s. He graduated from California College of Arts and Crafts (now California College of the Arts) in Oakland, CA. He owned the Wildlife Gallery and the Ug Restaurant in Mendocino, CA. He met his wife, Amanda, when they were cast as brother and sister in a production of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’. They moved to Virginia with their daughter Melinda in 1993.
As well as his wife, Amanda, and daughter, Melinda, Robert is survived by his son Robert Walter Avery, a veterinarian in Grass Valley, CA, and daughter-in-law Inger, grandson Fritz, and granddaughter Brita. He also leaves a sister, Margot Avery of Sausalito and Martinez, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Newell Avery and Margaret Avery McCloud, and his first wife, Karen Lissoll Black.
Robert was a member of Staunton’s First Presbyterian Church, the Staunton Kiwanis Club, and Virginia Master Gardeners. He was an inveterate collector, particularly of model trains and wind-up toys. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Staunton Augusta Art Center or the Mendocino Art Center.
A memorial service will be conducted by the Reverend Karen Allamon at First Presbyterian Church in Staunton at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2017.
Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
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