Robert Stanford

1926 - 2021

Robert Stanford was born August 25, 1926, the son of Joy and Dorris Stanford of San Diego, CA. Bob was a community member and business owner in Mammoth Lakes for forty years and a Bishop resident for ten years. He was a man with a ready smile, helpful hand and boundless energy. His love for family, the outdoors, music, travel and flying were evident throughout his life. He loved this community. If work needed to be done or a problem solved, he jumped into it with the most positive "Can do" attitude. Bob's love for the Mammoth area began in 1936 when he came here as a boy with his family for camping and fishing. He continued to return to Mammoth for hiking and skiing until May 1959 when he settled here as the new owner of Tamarack Lodge. Tamarack was strictly a summer resort in 1959, but in February 1960, Tamarack was officially opened for winter business. Bob was a go getter! Tamarack Lodge was his project from 1959 to 1969 and again from 1972 to 1976 when it sold. While Bob was operating Tamarack, he started Mammoth Aviation with a partner in 1963. Mammoth Aviation offered air ambulance service, charters, flying lessons and gave Robert the excuse to go flying. From 1971 to 1981, Bob and his wife Joann owned and operated the summer resort Wildyrie Lodge on Lake Mamie. They purchased Crystal Crag Lodge on Lake Mary in 1973 and operated it until 2003. During 1973 to 1976, Bob and Joann ran all three resorts. Robert served on the Mammoth Community Water District, the Mammoth Lakes Advisory Committee, along with many other community organizations. Bob was a Mono County supervisor from 1978 to 1989. He never stopped moving, his wife and children would say. He didn't waste a minute of his life. Bob teased his children by saying he would live to be one hundred years old. He died at age ninety-five on November 5, 2021 at his Lancaster residence. Robert is survived by his six children, Christina Kallemeyn (Dennis), Gretchen Sippial (Charles), Heidi Leary (Kevin), Robert L Stanford (Alison), Heather Weston, Laurel Stanford Manning (Mike). Robert has fifteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held this summer 2022 in the lakes basin.