Robert Gamson

1931 - 2018

Robert Gamson passed away December 9, 2018. He was born in Chicago on June 28, 1931, the sole child of Bernard and Thelma Gamson. He attended elementary schools in Winnetka and Kankakee, Illinois. The family moved to California in 1946, where he attended La Jolla High School, graduating in 1949. He attended San Diego State for two years before joining the Air Force, in which he served as radar technician for 4 years, including tours in England and Germany. Following his honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant, he resumed studies at San Diego State, completing his BS in physics in 1959. Bob worked as an electronics engineer in San Diego until he moved to Orange County in 1963. He opened Lido coin shop in Costa Mesa, which he owned and operated for 20 years. He resumed engineering employment in 1984, briefly at Ford Aerospace in Newport Beach, followed by 21 years as a software engineer at the Naval Warfare Assessment Station in Norco. Bob married his wife, Nancy, on May 4, 1973. At that time, he became the stepfather of 16-year old Russell Carr and 20-year old Steven Carr. He also became part of the Calvary Church family, to which Nancy had belonged since 1962. Bob and Nancy loved the outdoors, especially the high Sierras. They began hiking along with Russ, and soon became avid backpackers and cross-country skiers. After becoming grandparents with the births of Alex and Brandon Balzer-Carr in 1986 & 88, they began to assist their grandsons in learning to hike. Each winter the families would cross-country ski at Yosemite. When Alex and Brandon transitioned to downhill skis, Bob and Nancy also became avid downhill skiers, and the annual winter family get-together shifted to Mammoth Mountain. Bob and Nancy also loved ice-skating. Beginning in 2001, Bob and Nancy discovered the joys of international travel via cruise ships. Their cruises enabled them to explore Tahiti, Alaska, Antarctica, and many of the countries of South America, the Mediterranean and the Baltics. After Nancy's death in 2010, Bob continued to drive up to San Jose each year, through 2017, to be with Steve, daughter-in-law Jo Balzer, Alex, Brandon and their circle of friends for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bob continued hiking 8 miles a day, even if it took him six hours to do it, well into the last year of his life. Along with his stepsons and their families he is survived by extended family, including AJ Shaginaw & his family and Andy & Donna Shaginaw. Celebration of Life service will be at Calvary Church, 1010 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana at 11:00AM on January 17.