Robert Armstrong Sayle

Robert Armstrong Sayle, cherished by family and friends, passed away suddenly on August 19th. Bob was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but spent his childhood in Birmingham, Michigan. He received a BS in civil engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana University where he met his wife of 47 years, Mary Kay. After graduation from Indiana, Bob moved to Chicago and worked for Arthur Andersen as a business consultant. It is then that Bob and Mary Kay were married and, with a spirit of adventure, the two set off for a year of travel in Europe. Upon returning, they settled in the Bay Area where they have resided for the past forty-four years, both in San Francisco and then Hillsborough. Bob was an entrepreneur at heart and focused on computer software, hardware, and technology consulting ventures. Bob's family and friends came before all else, and he derived great joy being with them and entertaining them at home or in the backyard that he so carefully attended. He was the reliable care giver, the "go to" Dad and friend who always had your back; selfless, non-judgmental, humble, hard-working, and ever so wise….and he had a knack for finding the funniest birthday cards for family and friends. Bob loved athletics, especially basketball, and enjoyed working on staying in shape, often at the Olympic Club where he was a member for 40 years. He was an avid runner who competed in many races, his favorite being the Bay to Breakers. He served on various boards including Notre Dame High School, Belmont and St. Francis of Assisi Youth Club in East Palo Alto where he had been tutoring for some years. Bob is survived by his wife, Mary Kay, his two children, Paige Bellenbaum (Bjorn) of New York, and Robert (Tre) Armstrong Sayle III (Cryztal) of San Francisco as well as five grandchildren, Max and Ella Bellenbaum, Odin, Diego , and Cora Sayle, and sister, Barbara Sommerfeld. Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Tuesday, August 29th, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 300 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo. A rosary will be said in the chapel at 1:00 PM, for those interested, followed by the memorial service at 1:30 PM. A reception will be held at the home of the Sayle family after the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities Youth Club at Saint Francis of Assisi, East Palo Alto.