Robert "Bob" Sanborn

1961 - 2016

Dr. Robert "Bob" Sanborn, passed away unexpectedly of sudden cardiac arrest on December 16, 2016. He was an exceptional husband, father, son, brother, friend and physician. A man with more integrity and compassion would be hard to find. He was beloved by his family and many friends and adored by patients and their families. He was a hero, a role model, an unforgettable and irreplaceable man. Bob was born September 30, 1961 in Rochester, New York as the fourth of six children born to Frank Sanborn and the late Frances "Mickey" Sanborn. From a young age Bob was full of adventure, drive and compassion, as well as an infamous sense of humor. His family moved to Huntington Beach in 1969 where they made a wonderful life by the beach. Bob and his siblings and lifelong friends were active in the Huntington Beach City Lifeguard program as guards and, later, instructors. He stayed connected to that passion all his life and passed it on to his daughter, Kyra, who spent several summers as a junior lifeguard. Bob went to Edison High School and Orange Coast College before starting at UC Santa Barbara in 1983. In the first weeks at UCSB, Bob met his soulmate and future wife, Sharon Wilson (now Sanborn). The two were perfectly matched with their unending energy levels and love of running, swimming and triathlons. Bob and Sharon married after graduation and moved to Hanover, New Hampshire for Bob to begin Dartmouth Medical School. They made many life-long friends in married student housing in the New England forest. Bob attended Dartmouth Medical School on a Naval scholarship and after graduating Alpha Omega Alpha became a Lieutenant (later Lt. Commander) in the U.S. Navy. He did his internship at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, CA and then moved to San Diego to serve as a physician for the Marines at Camp Pendleton at the San Diego Naval Hospital in Balboa. Bob was accepted at Stanford Hospital for his anesthesia residency, and Bob and Sharon moved to Palo Alto where they started their family. Kyle and Kyra were born and their family was complete. The Sanborn family then moved to San Diego again for the remaining years of Bob's military commitment at San Diego Naval Hospital. During his time in the Navy, Bob served two overseas assignments stationed first as a Navy doctor assigned to the Marines in Okinawa, Japan (where he was known for outdoing the young marines in training exercises), and later on board the USS Constellation (known as the Connie), as part of a WESTPAC deployment to the Persian Gulf. Following the Navy, Bob and Sharon joined family in Sacramento in 1998, where Bob joined the Anesthesia Group at Mercy General Hospital and a very special swimming group at Arden Hills. Bob worked at Mercy for over eighteen years, where he was known for his professional excellence, compassion and true interest in his coworkers and patients. In the final days of Bob's life, he was cared for by his treasured professional family at Mercy, and visited by an unending stream of friends, who were also like family. Kyle and Kyra had the experience of witnessing a community's true devotion to their father, whose integrity, kindness and loyalty was universally respected. Bob's family feels so indebted to the doctors, nurses, and Sister Kathleen at Mercy General who gave Bob and the family the most brilliant and compassionate care possible. Bob's pride in his wife and children, and whole extended family, was obvious to all. His most cherished experiences were cheering for Kyle at cross country meets and Kyra at swim meets. His loyalty to his large circle of friends was also unending. Bob had a very close circle of friends, whom he joined in the pool at Arden Hills for a workout at 5:00 a.m., nearly every morning of his Sacramento life, even after 24 hour shifts at the hospital. This group joined in numerous Bella Bru breakfasts and outdoor adventures, including the Tahoe Swim, and many hikes and bike rides. Bob especially enjoyed his hikes with Kyle and his runs along the American River Bike trail with his dog, Ellie. Bob was taken from us far too soon. He and Sharon had many plans for their future. He had so much more to give, and we feel cheated of that, but we know that he led an exemplary life of meaning, purpose and great love. He lived everyday to the absolute fullest, enjoying the big adventures and the small family moments with equal love and joy. He inspired everyone that loved him to chase his/her dreams and to be a better person. Our memories are so vibrant and poignant that he will live on in us forever. Bob was predeceased by his mother, Frances "Mickey" Sanborn and his brother, Frank B. Sanborn, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Wilson Sanborn; son, Kyle Sanborn; daughter, Kyra Sanborn; father, Francis "Frank" Sanborn; sister, Mary Sanborn; sister, Kathleen Sanborn Hawes (Tim); brother, Ed Sanborn (Julie); and sister, Joanne Sanborn Lee (Rick); parents in law, William and Carolyn Wilson; sisters in law; Cynthia Crane (Lawrence), Linda Bloom(Keith) and Lisa Anderson (Kirk); nieces and nephews: Amber Sanborn (Jamin Triz); Ryan, Caitlin and Sarah Hawes; Davey and Emily Bloom; Jake Sanborn; Taylor Lee; Noah and Evan Crane; and great niece and nephew, Scarlet Triz and Cruz Triz. On December 30, 2016, a memorial service will be held at St Michael's Episcopal Church at 2140 Mission Ave., Carmichael at 2:00 p.m. and a Celebration of Life at Arden Hills Resort Club and Spa, 1220 Arden Hills Lane, Sacramento at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to carpool to both events. For anyone interested, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org), or The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (www.ocrfa.org).