Robert Dumouchel

Robert "Bob" Dumouchel of Arroyo Grande, California passed away on July 7, 2025 – his 72nd

birthday. Many knew Bob as a serial entrepreneur, community builder,

and tireless mentor to those willing to take the risk and start a business. But he

was also a Dad, Husband, Grandpa, Brother, and proud Army Veteran.

Bob grew up in Anaheim, California, with his brothers Larry, Tim, and David, and

attended Magnolia High School. If the stories of their childhood are to be believed,

the boys caused trouble the entire time… their poor mother.

Bob enlisted in the US Army in 1971 and quickly rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant

shortly after his 22nd birthday. He served tours in Vietnam and Thailand.

Afterwards, he spent two and a half years in and out of Letterman Army Hospital

on the Presidio of San Francisco, undergoing seven major abdominal surgeries

related to his military service. He was honorably discharged in 1978.

While serving as an armorer on the Presidio, Bob met his future wife, Robin - a

military Police Officer. The way he always liked to tell the story was that they met at gunpoint. They were married in 1979 and moved to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where they'd raise their two sons, Robert and Ryan.

Bob launched his first business, Systems and Programming Solutions Incorporated (SPSI), in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The business started in Bob's basement with his buddy Jim Keck. Eventually, it grew to be an Inc. 500 Company and IBM Premier Business Partner with 40 employees, many of whom SPSI hired with no programming experience and trained on the job through an intense boot camp-style apprentice program.

In 1996, the family decided to relocate from the Midwest to the beach and landed

in Arroyo Grande, California. Bob quickly integrated himself into the Central

Coast's tech community and started multiple businesses, collaborating with his

colleagues on big ideas, and mentoring people at every stage of their professional

journeys. Bob gave his time freely to colleagues, fellow entrepreneurs, college

students, and Arroyo Grande High School's Eagle Robotics Team.

Business was frequently a family affair. Robin, Robert, and Ryan all spent time

working with Bob at different points in their lives. For a few years, the entire

family – including the family dog, Loki – worked together at Systems & Marketing

Solutions (SMS – Bob really liked acronyms) in Grover Beach.

Bob retired from SMS in 2021, but never stopped working. He focused his time on

passion projects, building community tech-related meetup groups, mentoring, and

being a grandpa to Zeplen and Bowie. Bob had a very curious mind and was

constantly reading and experimenting. Always looking forward, Bob challenged

people to ask themselves, "What's next?" That positive legacy will live on amongst

his family and friends.

A celebration of life will be hosted on July 28, 2025, from 6pm to 8pm at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship located at 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo (https://www.meetup.com/softec/events/309993504/). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests honoring Bob's memory with a contribution to your local Food Bank.