Robert Purser

Today, August 30, I was talking to a sales person from Peru and it made me think of Robert Purser.....I was a stitchery student and then teacher, and he came to our group when teaching in Bellevue, explaining how in Peru, he tried to get the ladies to knit hats for him to sell in the States....but he had difficulty explaining what he wanted. He finally got them to weave "fabric" from their wool, taught them the chain stitch so they could create stitchery pictures on their weaving. Common...

Today, I was sorting through some old art materials and came across Bob's name. Remembering what a special person he was and how so very helpful he was to me when I was just beginning to wet my feet in the teaching world, I googled his name. I was so very saddened to learn that the world had lost this wonderful man. Since moving away from the area, I have been out of touch with some for whom I hold cherished memories. I will always treasure having known Bob Purser. Robin, I extend my...

I miss Bob.......I worked with him to redesign his website purserstudio.com recently. He was such a nice person to work with and also as a friend. May you rest in peace

I remember how I gasped, the first time I saw Bob's hot pink house...nestled in the woods in staid old Bellevue! The world needs more teachers, more playful manipulators of their environment; our world is poorer for his passing. Rest in Peace, my friend.

This is sad.
I worked with Bob for 40 of his 44 years.
His office was one I passed daily on the way to my classroom which was in the Art Building on the Bellevue Community College campus, now Bellevue College.
A ready smile and his good nature made the connection always enjoyable.
His collegiality matched his artistic talents.
I shall miss him.

Well, I've known Bob practically forever. Because we were both artists working in the 'found object' vein we shared great enthusiasm around the goofiest aquisitions. He gave me a heavy spool of rusted barbed wire which I treasure. We were both esctatic over that wire. I reserve it for only very special projects. Bob's work was immaculately crafted and he worked in many mediums over the years using a wide variety of tools: anything that would help create the vision he held in his head. He...

Candy and Family, So sorry to read of Bob's passing. Just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you at this sad time. It has been a long time since our paths have crossed but I have happy memories of the deadend gang growing up. May God Bless you and your family.
Margaret Jones McBurney

I am one of Bob's many former students at Bellevue Community College. He was a wonderful mentor and friend. In addition to encouraging my career aspirations in architecture, he introduced me to the Seattle Architecture Foundation. His enthusiasm for architecture was delightful and inspiring. I feel fortunate to have both taken architecture tours from him and later on to have given a tour with him.

Bob's legacy to me is that buildings have a soul, they speak to us. We can read textbooks and do research all day long but it's also necessary to sit quietly and listen to the unique voice of each space. I'm thankful that I experienced his architecture class, his genuine love of teaching, and his sly, dry wit!