Robert Bardmess

1920 - 2013

Robert Bardmess
December 26, 1920-June 14, 2013
Bob was a third generation Californian, born in Santa Maria and grown in Santa Cruz. In 1939 he opened one of the first body building gyms in California. With Jack LaLanne, Vic Tanny, George Eiferman, Joe Gold and other athletes, Bob pioneered the concept that weight lifting is a form of exercise that is healthful for everyone, young and old, male or female, atheletic, or not.
Bob Bardmess was a member of the elite Paramarines that landed on Guadalcanal in 1942. He experienced heavy fighting on Guadalcanal, Choiseul and Bougainville, where many of his comrades lost their lives.
After the war he joined Vic Tanny and opened and managed a series of health clubs in California and educated the people about exercise. In 1954 he left the Tanny organization to open one of the first de-segregated health clubs on the West Coast in South-Central Los Angeles and called it The Ebony. Bob believed that mainstream sports culture was overlooking very talented women and African American athletes. In his later years he enjoyed watching their success in all the sports.
In the 1960's and 70's Bob owned and ran health clubs in North Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley where he instructed people on how to be "a self-improved model of yourself". Bob's motto was "style is king". He encouraged athletes and body builders to avoid getting ahead of themselves, thus preventing the pitfalls of burnout and injury. He mentored hundreds of students over the years to exercise properly to improve both health and physical performance. Many of his peers considered him a pioneer in the field of body building.
Bob retired in 1987 and moved to Los Banos California with his wife Mary where for a time he taught weight training at Dick's Gym because that's what he loved to do most. He is preceded in death by his first wife LaVerne, and second wife Sandra. He is survived by his wife Mary, his two daughters Jonelle Bardmess and Peggy Burgess, and his grandson Orion Teal, his step-son Martin Baker and step-grand daughters Jessica and Lily Baker.
Bob will be remembered as a big gentle man who was never angry, always patient, and always kind. He was an inspiration for many people.
The family would like to thank Dr. Mevi and Dr. Cesar who enabled Bob to live a long and happy life here in Los Banos and the Hinds Hospice for helping him to a peaceful gentle death. Bob often said, "coming here was a good move".
There will be a service by the Los Banos Veterans Color Guard at the San Joaquin Valley Veterans Cemetery on Monday, July 15th, at 9:30 A.M.
In lieu of flowers make donations to Hinds Hospice Merced, CA.
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