Robert D. Horwitz

HORWITZ, ROBERT D. Robert D. Horwitz, engineer turned garden writer, passed away January 12, 2008. Born in Denver on March 28, 1922, he came to San Diego in the fall of 1949 to join the staff of just beginning Channel 8, the city's first TV station, as an engineer. In 1951, he became part of General Dynamics' Convair Division, and was soon chief of the analog computer lab in the days when one single computer occupied space the size of an entire warehouse. He was instrumental in developing the technology that sent the first astronaut into space, the Atlas Rocket, and later helped develop the submarine version of the Tomahawk Cruise missile. His interest in communication and engineering began at age 15 when he became a "Ham" or amateur radio operator, a hobby continued throughout his life. His patriotic efforts to join the Army after Pearl Harbor were deterred by enlistment officials who advised him to complete his education, saying he would be more valuable to his country after achieving his degree in electrical engineering. That accomplished in 1944 at the University of Colorado, his military career began with basic training, followed by Officers' Candidate School and service in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as commander of a group setting up aircraft navigation stations in Labrador and then the Azores. After retiring from General Dynamics in 1983, Bob served on the County Grand Jury 1985-86 and then began writing about a longtime passion, gardening. His columns were featured regularly, first in the "San Diego Union," then in "San Diego Home & Garden," and for the past 15 years in "California Garden," published by the San Diego Floral Association, where he served variously on the magazine's editorial board and the organization's Board of Directors. He was a longtime judge of the garden displays at the San Diego County Fair, and also of the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. As an ardent proponent and supporter of education, he influenced changes in the math curriculum of Dana Junior High School and was on the Board of Directors of the extracurricular Honors Seminars program for high school students. Also an enthusiastic amateur chef, he enjoyed "Sunset" magazine's publication of several of his original recipes. Having grown up in a close, extended family, Bob and his wife of 56 years, Gerry, emphasized both independence and the importance of family to their three children, who survive him: Heidi Horwitz (Dale Bloomquist) of Seattle, Paula Jorgensen (Mike) of Melbourne, Australia, and Adam Horwitz of Bangkok, Thailand, as well as to his two grandchildren, Peter and Eleanor Rae Jorgensen, also of Australia. His sister, Ruth Goldenberg of Omaha, also survives. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, January 27th, at 10:30 a.m. in the Marina Room of Humphrey's Half Moon Inn on Shelter Island. The family requests contributions to Second Chance, 6145 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92114, in lieu of flowers. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com