Robert "Bob" Sims

Miss you bob, seems like yesterday I arrived at Boise State to find my favorite dean, Bob Sims right down the hall...his friendship so enriched my life....

I just read of Dr. Sims' passing in the BSU magazine, and was very sad. I had him for four classes while a history major from 1973-77; I remember him as a professor who cared deeply about the subject and always made class interesting. Although I didn't get a related job with my history-secondary ed major, he was very happy when I told him about what became my career - working as a lawyer for a New Deal agency, the NLRB, where I still am. I hope his family is comforted by the knowledge that he...

Dear Betty and Family,

During the time that we worked together, Betty, I heard of Bob's work at Minidoka. Then when I first met Bob over coffee in Seattle, I was pleased that he asked me about Japanese-American families in my hometown of Emmett. We were both surprised that the families that Bob knew happened to be my father's childhood neighbors!

Later, in the peaceful shade of your patio last summer, Bob regaled us with stories of his early research in Idaho and encouraged my...

Just want to say thank you for being a mentor to all of us who asked for your help. You made the world a better place, and will be deeply missed.

Betty
I am sending my love, my thoughts and prayers. I heard of Bob's passing from David Skinner the other night and have been thinking about you ever since. It has been many years since seeing you but I have never forgotten your support and friendship in my last year at Boise State University. I have never forgotten you and Bob and the kindness and thoughtfulness that you both bring to the world around you. Please know that I, like may others, share in your loss and care about...

Beryl and I were traveling in Eastern Europe when we received news of Bob's death. We are devastated by thee loss. When I arrived at BSU at Dean of Education in 1991, Bob's office was just down the hall on the 7th floor. It was wonderful to have offices across the hall with another Dean. He welcomed me to BSU, helped provide orientation on all cans of academic but best of all he became a dear and trusted friend. His smile and chuckle brighten my every day. And with Pat Beiter serving a my...

I was blessed to have Bob as my advisor during my years at BSU, and, without his guidance and assistance, would not have even considered graduate school! He thought I would be a perfect fit for the graduate program at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, and how right he was! The training I received from both BSUand WWU opened doors to a career not even dreamed of! I made a point to stop by for visits while on vacations to the Boise area, and Bob always made time for me,...

In 2006 or so, Bob Sims (though retired) shepherded an independent research project I wanted to work on. He was wry, encouraging and spot on in his critiques. I knew he was interested in The Depression and crossing my fingers I gave him Tim Egan's "The Worst Hard Times." It was before the Ken Burns documentary, and he had not read it. We had such a good time talking about the book and sharing stories. If memory serves me correctly, Bob and Mrs. Sims were involved in a PUBLIC ...

I had the privilege of serving as chair of the Social Work Department under Bob as the Dean of the School. He provided an incredible amount of encouragement and support through numerous challenges as we fast tracked the development of a graduate social work program. Bob was a friend, mentor, and colleague - a person of upmost integrity. Bob is part of who I am as I am sure he is for many others.