Robert Spence

1940 - 2025

Robert Spence
09/26/1940 - 11/10/2025
After a life well-lived, Robert L. Spence passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025 at the age of 85.
Born in Colorado, Bob was raised in El Segundo, California. Bob, the first in his family to go to college, attended Stanford University on an NROTC Scholarship. He graduated in March, 1963 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. While at Stanford, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity and was the Captain of the Stanford Water Polo team. Although the 1964 USA Olympic team was selected from his college and high school water polo teams, Bob chose not to attend the tryouts; he instead wanted to serve on a ship in order to evaluate the Navy as a career.
He was commissioned as an officer on April 1, 1963 and, four hours later, married Kristi Borel Cotton. After a brief honeymoon, he shipped out and served first on a destroyer, the USS Blue, and then taught for five years at the Nuclear Power School in Vallejo.
After having his Navy separation orders approved in 1969, Bob and Kristi moved to San Mateo Park. He joined the family real estate business and, in short order, took over as General Partner of Borel Place Associates. A faithful steward of the business, he stepped back significantly when Covid hit and recently retired.
Bob was an active member of the community, serving as a Board Member, Director, or President of numerous organizations including Mills-Peninsula Hospital, the Comprehensive Health Planning Council of San Mateo County, the San Mateo Family Service Agency, the San Mateo Rotary Club, the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce, the Committee to Recommend Restructuring of the San Mateo City Schools, and the San Mateo Grand Jury. The organization he most cherished was the Bohemian Club of which he was a member for 51 years and served as President from 2013-2015.
Bob and Kristi raised four children. A hands-on dad, Bob packed lunches, ran carpools and kept the peace, encouraging Kristi to return to Stanford to pursue a Law degree and a legal career. After their children were grown and gone, Bob and Kristi raised their granddaughter from the age of 2.
Bob and Kristi were avid travelers, enjoying leisure vacations and adventure travel to, at the time, unusual destinations such as Mongolia, Cuba, Western China, Tibet and Pakistan. They also loved spending summers at their family home at Lake Tahoe.
A true gentleman of unquestionable integrity, work ethic, dedication and determination he, unasked, always gave time to his family and friends. In later years, Parkinson's stole his exuberant laugh but could never erase his wonderful, ever-present smile.
In addition to his wife, Kristi, he is survived by his children Brooksley, Kimberley, Alexander and Jonathan ("Jody"), his granddaughter Mikia, his grandchildren Emma, Hailey, Max, and Cassidy, his step grandchildren C.J. and Cruz, his brother Jim and his sister Patricia.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Dawn Redwood Trust. (One Blackfield Drive, Suite 331, Tiburon, CA 94920, https://dawnredwoodstrust.org)