Robert Dahlgren

Robert Lawrence Dahlgren passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the age of 79 at the University of California, San Francicso Medical Center, where he was receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Bob was born in Fresno to Emma and Lawrence Dahlgren on March 17, 1930. He began his education at Fresno State College Elementary School. At age ten his family bought a farm in the Easton area, where both sets of grandparents lived. His parents wanted Bob and his sister Doris to know farm life as they had.

After attending Washington Colony Elementary School, Bob graduated from Washington Union High School as valedictorian of his class in 1947. In 1951 he graduated from Fresno State College and was the class speaker at the graduation ceremony. In college, Bob was a member of Blue Key Honor Society and Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity.

Bob chose to follow in his father's footsteps and become a dentist. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons (now University of the Pacific School of Dentistry) in San Francisco in 1955. During dental school he belonged to Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society, Tau Kappa Omega Dental Honor Society, and Xi Psi Phi Dental Fraternity, Alpha Phi Chapter. He was a member of the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry Alumni, and the Fresno Madera Dental Society.

In 1953 Bob married Barbara Matthew, whom he had met in college. After graduation Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a dentist for two years at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington. In 1957 Bob returned to Fresno with his wife Barbara and their children, and joined his father, practicing dentistry in the Rowell building, where his office overlooked Courthouse Park. In 1967 his father retired and Bob moved his office to the Tower District.

Bob and Barbara loved to travel together and visited many countries off the beaten track, including Mali, Bhutan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tibet, Namibia, Bolivia, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea. His friends would ask him, "Why would you want to go there?". He had an open eye to the world, and enjoyed adventuring, observing wildlife, learning about the cultures, customs, and religions of people around the globe.

Bob was an avid skier, taking many trips to Colorado, Utah, Austria, Switzerland, and Lake Tahoe areas. He even skied one day while on a wildlife trip to New Zealand. From the first to the last snow, you could find Bob on the slopes at Badger Pass or Sierra Summit. In his forties, Bob decided to get a pilot's license as he was flying with his cousin to Mexico on fishing trips. Being a practical person, he thought there should be two people in the plane with a license.

Bob loved his family and shared his love of the outdoors with them on many trips. He had many interests including skiing, swimming, hiking, fishing, gardening, exploring remote roads in the Sierras, walking on the beach in Santa Cruz, theatre, stamp collecting, and doing the daily crossword puzzle and suduko each evening, both in pen. Bob loved being a dentist and enjoyed seeing his many long-time patients. He only retired when he was diagnosed with leukemia in April.

Bob's family wishes to thank all of his friends and patients that wrote and called when they learned of his retiring.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Emma and Lawrence Dahlgren; and his sister, Doris Dahlgren.

Bob is survived by Barbara, his wife of 55 years; daughter, Susan Gail Dahlgren and her husband, Michael Arenson and their daughter, Melody Rose Arenson Dahlgren of Santa Cruz; son, Robert Matthew Dahlgren of Fresno; daughter, Ann Elaine Dahlgren and her husband, Douglas Foulke and his children, Perry Elizabeth Foulke, Briona Lynn Foulke, and Devon Brion Foulke of Brookfield, Connecticut.

In Bob's memory do a crossword puzzle, suduko, swim a lap or if you are a skier, do a run for him next winter at Sierra Summit or Badger Pass. A donation may be made in his memory to your favorite charity.

NEPTUNE SOCIETY OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 1154 West Shaw Avenue Fresno, Ca. (559)222-7764