Robert C. Holmes

September 12, 1935 - September 22, 2023 Robert, aka Bob, was born on September 12, 1935 and was adopted by Harold Holmes and Margaret Moon Holmes of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His family was active in Park Church, where he and his younger siblings, Allen and Monette, sang in the choir. He attended South High School and then Carleton College, '57. After Carleton, he married Janet Rogers of Pasadena, CA. He attended Officers Candidate School and served in the Navy, stationed on a US Navy Radar Picket Ship patrolling the Atlantic coast. He received his MBA from University of Michigan in 1962, and moved with his wife and two young children, Craig and Lisa, to the San Fernando Valley, where he started work at Litton Industries. The family had two more children, Eric and Sarah, and Bob moved employment to The Marquardt Company. In 1970 the couple divorced. Bob was very active in the Unitarian Church in Sepulveda, The Onion.

In 1979, Bob married Mary Fauvre of Pasadena. They had one son, Ryan, and Bob continued at Marquardt while he also taught private pilot lessons and aviation ground school classes. In 1989, the family moved to Pasadena, where they were all active in Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church. He learned computer-networking management and worked as a computer consultant for a few years, and then began full time teaching in the business department at Glendale Community College in 1992.

First and foremost a father and husband, Bob also had many hobbies and he enjoyed them intentionally and thoroughly. He always had music in his life, and sang in every choir available, most recently Madrigals, Pasadena Pro Musica, Neighborhood Church choir, as well as leading many, many family sing-alongs and social gatherings. He liked hiking and backpacking and took his family camping to many state and national parks, including summiting Mt. Whitney four times to ensure each of his children achieved that milestone at least once. He was an avid golfer as well as a car enthusiast; his beloved 1963 British Morgan had a special place in his heart. He and Mary played tennis, and they learned to windsurf at Lake Castaic. Always interested in the latest technology, Bob was the first on our block to get an Apple IIe computer, and he stayed high on his tech skills for many years.

In 2018 his doctor first mentioned the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, but it was not serious until mid-2020. For the past year he was confined to his bed and cared for round the clock by in-home caregivers. He passed peacefully and without pain in the early morning of September 22, 2023. His family had all gathered with him to sing and celebrate his 88th birthday just the week before. He was much loved and he will be greatly missed. He is survived by his five children, Craig, Lisa, Eric, Sarah and Ryan, eight grandchildren, Austin, Hannah, Oliver, Oscar, Cara, Colette, Jane and Thomas, and his wife, Mary. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, Pasadena Pro Musica, or an organization of your choice.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on October 21st at 3:30pm at Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena.