Robert S. McNamara

1943 - 2018

BORN

1943

DIED

2018

About

University of Southern California

Robert McNamara Obituary

June 3, 1943 - February 23, 2018 Dr. Robert "Bob" McNamara, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, has passed away at age 74. He is survived by his wife, Kris, and four children: Erin McCarthy (Michael), Amy McNamara, Miguel Amador (Moana), and Maeson Amador (Briana). He was blessed with five beautiful granddaughters: Stella, Ocean, Isla, Viva and Mackenzie. Bob is also survived by his brother, Ken. Bob grew up in Martinez, CA, and attended Bellarmine College Preparatory before attending USC for undergraduate and dental school. He was a phenomenal athlete and played baseball in high school and college. He played golf for many years (the first tee at The Cravens will never be the same). Bob practiced dentistry in San Marino for 49 years and was devoted to his practice and his patients. He was a voracious reader and had a penchant for betting the ponies. He had many wonderful friends and anyone whose life he touched was blessed for knowing him. While all of the above nourished him, his greatest love was his wife and family. From coaching his children, to spending weekends in La Jolla with his wife, to enjoying his granddaughters, he was involved in every step of the way. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Bellarmine College Preparatory Financial Aid Programs, 960 W. Hedding St., San Jose, CA 95126 (www.bcp.org/give), Foundation for Advanced Continuing Education (F.A.C.E.), P.O. Box 2128, Saratoga, CA 95070 (www.facedentistry.org) or Huntington Hospital Cardiac Rehab, c/o Office of Philanthropy, 100 W California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105.

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Published by Los Angeles Times from Mar. 1 to Mar. 4, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert McNamara

6 Entries

Frank D'Oro

April 4, 2018

Kris
To say I am saddened or shocked pales in comparison to your loss. But allow me to say Bob was someone who became part of my life. I trusted him as a friend and a guid for Anthony. He was funny and irreverent and that's why we all loved him. I believe in the peace of Christ but I will always miss him. My condolences. Please also tell Amy how sorry I am for her loss.

Deborah Buckwalter

March 8, 2018

Dear Kris,

Galen and I are so very sorry for your loss.
We both appreciated Bob's expertise as well as his winning way of interacting with us and being in the room. We will miss him!

We wish you and your family comfort and peace.

Galen and Deborah Buckwalter

Michael Gorski

March 4, 2018

As a former Little League manager I have a good understanding of the hours that managers put into the players on their team, the challenges they can face, and, sometimes, the lack of appreciation that is given to them. Last week I heard that my 11 year old season manager, Dr. Bob McNamara, had died a few days before. Dr. McNamara was also my neighbor and my dentist while I was growing up. He coached our team very well. He gave me a set of golf irons I still own. I still have teeth he filled. He was good to me. His analysis of his players was independent and fair because he didn't have a child on the team. That can be so rarely the case with youth sports coaches. That fairness really stuck with me as something I wanted to shoot for as a coach. I have never forgotten that model as I know what it is like to sit on the bench when the coach's kid gets the majority of the playing time.

In this picture Dr. McNamara was about 30 years old and had no kids on the team, but decided to manage us anyway. He had played baseball at USC and just liked being around the sport and the players. He gave much more to us than he got. I hadn't seen Dr. McNamara in the last 30 years, but my sister said he always asked about me. I never told him how much I appreciated him as a coach and I am sorry for that. I am sure he had no idea how I felt. I am probably not the only one who didn't tell him. Maybe this will somehow reach his loved ones so that at least they will know.

If someone has been good to you and you have never told them, please consider being more intentional than I was with Dr. McNamara. Coaches, teachers, pastors, bosses, parents, etc... often don't receive as much as they get. Let's try intentionally giving back to them just a little of what they have given us.

God bless you, Dr. McNamara, and thank you!

Mike Gorski

David & Susan Boudreau

March 3, 2018

Kris, Dave and I want to express our deep sympathy to you and your family. We feel like we are the lucky ones to have known such a great man as your Bob. The time we spent with you both in LaJolla was a special time together sharing stories. A time we will always remember. Sending you our love, Sue and Dave Boudreau

March 2, 2018

Dr. McNamara will be missed condolences to his family

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