Robert Kersey

1923 - 2014

ROBERT L. KERSEY

December 15, 1923

January 25, 2014

Our loving husband, father, uncle and friend was born in Denver, Colorado to Helen and Ray Kersey. At the age of 5, the family moved to El Paso, Texas where he and sisters, Ruth and Helen attended school. He attended Austin High School where he played clarinet and bassoon in the Marching Band, graduating in 1941. After attending Texas School of Mines and Metallurgy, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving as a Naval Aviator and Patrol Plane Commander during World War II. At the end of the war, he returned to El Paso to continue his education, but soon after was accepted to Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration. After completing his degree, he and Sally Morrison married. In 1950 he was offered an appointment at UC Berkeley, with the ASUC. In 1954, they welcomed the birth of son, Kenneth Foster Kersey. In 1956, Bob accepted a position with the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, where daughter Linda Suzanne Kersey was born. In 1958 he was selected to become the first director of the new Jot Travis Student Union at the University of Nevada.

After World War II, Bob served in the Naval Reserve as a Naval Intelligence Officer, doing his reserve duty at Alameda Naval Air Station and many other duty stations around the world. He retired as a full Commander in 1972.

In 1965 Bob met and married Virginia (Ginnie) Ryan adopting her two children, Kelly Michael and Cindy Ellen in 1970. That same year the family welcomed a son, Lee Craig Kersey. Together, the family lived a good life enjoying many travels and adventures all over the world. Ginnie and Bob celebrated 48 years of marriage on November 20, 2013.

After retiring from the University as an Emeritus Professor in 1986, he began working as an Ambassador at the Reno Tahoe International Airport until the program was restructured. He also supported many local programs as well as his favorite political candidates. He was also a devoted member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada.

Bob is survived by his wife, Ginnie, sons Ken (Lisa) and Kelly (Susan), daughters, Linda Kersey (Don) and Cindy Ceccarelli (Mike) as well as his sisters, Ruth and Helen, ten grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many wonderful friends and dog, Sadie. He was preceded by his parents and loving son, Lee.

His legacy will carry on.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held on March 8, 2014 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the Ranch House, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park.