Robert-Ellis-Obituary

Robert Andrews Ellis

Sonoma, California

Jun 28, 1936 – Dec 4, 2025

About

BORN
June 28, 1936
DIED
December 4, 2025
LOCATION
Sonoma, California

Obituaries

Send Flowers

Robert Andrews Ellis, a publisher who helped shape the digital transition from CD-ROM to the internet and social media, died on December 4, 2025, at his home in Sonoma, California. He was 89.Ellis was born June 28, 1936, in Hamilton, Ohio, to Erle Moore Ellis and Lanelle Andrews Ellis. By age 8,...

Read More

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

I was sorry to hear of Bob's passing. Bob was my Father's cousin and knew Bob and his first wife Ingrid in Washington D.C. He was very inspirational person and remember even at 15 years old, he would take time to have philosophic conversations about politics.

I met Bob in the early 2000´s , referred as a maintenance gardener. He and Jane were living part time in the " Best Place on Earth", the Sonoma property.. we started out planting the first of 2 Lavender gardens, and taking care of the grounds . When I suggested we come every couple of weeks, Bob said." Why? It´s not the Taj Mahal !". . Jane e mailed me soon after and asking when we could start . Over what became 20 years of working with Bob, we came to know his love of beautiful...

Group of 5 Memorial Trees

Bob Ellis came into my life in the spring of 2018, after the Tubbs Fire had taken his home and after the loss of his beloved wife, Jane. When we first met, he asked for piano lessons. He had bought a house that happened to have a piano in it and said he thought he might as well learn to play. It quickly became clear that Bob was deeply musical. He had a lovely singing voice, and before long our piano lessons evolved into voice lessons. He was endlessly curious about how the voice works and...

Dear Erle(aka Chris), The long ago years I spent with Bob, you and Stefan were among the best of my life. When I learned of his passing I was filled with remorse and memories. Your bond with your father was special. Please take good care of yourself in this difficult time. And, know that I always loved the three of you deeply. With love, Cheryl

I am greatly saddened by the loss of Bob Ellis. He enriched the world and the lives of his many friends by his presence. Bob's agile mind was wide-ranging and his many interests were true passions. He supported what he loved financially but also with the gift of his time. His love of opera is well known by everyone who knew him at all, but he also loved music in general. For example, he subscribed to the performances of the Berlin Philharmonic. It was typical of him that he decided late in...

I would like to present my condoleances to Bob's family who I haven't had to opportunity to meet. I briefly met Bob in the early 90s in MA before I moved to SF to start Xoom.com with Chris and Bob. We spent most of the days working together trying to create something from an idea. Bob quickly became a mentor to me. We went through ups and downs but Bob stayed strong, always kind but determined. He was a pillar for me. I will never forget how Bob protected me during the NBC takeover. Kindness,...

Bob was the most perfect gentleman of culture with a generous heart, an empathetic listener and irrepressible entrepreneur. He was always optimistic and looking forward, never backwards. We have lost someone who represented the best of humanity. I last saw Bob a little over a year ago in Paris for the memorial for his long time Yalie friend David Burke. After the US elections the following month he declared it was time for him to leave the country. I hoped he´d choose Paris but apparently it...

Miss you, Bob. Our time together was always treasured. Jeff and Melissa