David Dobbins

David Trowbridge Dobbins June 22, 1916 - May 6, 2010 David had a rather unique life. It all started when he was born in China where his father was the Dean of Engineering at the University of Tientsin. Shortly afterwards his family moved back to San Francisco where they lived on Mason St., opposite what is now the Mark Hopkins. He attended kindergarten in the basement of the Fairmont Hotel. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Engineering in 1939. There he met his 1st wife of 54 years, Jane S. Duff, who died from cancer in 1993. All his life David loved airplanes, boats and helicopters. He was employed by various aeronautical companies which included, Hiller, Hughes, and North American. In the 50's the family moved to Guadalajara, Mexico where David taught math at the American School and worked on his famous Simcopter, a flying car, which is now in the Wings of History Air museum in San Martin, CA. He loved Mexico. The Dobbins family eventually returned to San Francisco after 4 years where David worked for Westinghouse until he retired. He then took off with his wife from Coyote Point Yacht Club on a beautiful 54', ketch for another adventure into Mexican waters. They got as far as Coronado, CA. where his wife firmly put her feet down the on the ground where they lived until she died. In 1997 David was fortunate to meet and marry his second wife Barbara Laskey who also had an adventurous spirit. They moved to Palm Desert, CA in 2002 while he continued to work on Helicopters until his death. David is survived by his wife, Barbara, his son David D. Dobbins, his daughter Carol T. Griffin and 3 grandchildren: David Todd Dobbins, and Shauna Anne Griffin and Eliisa K. Griffin. There will be a celebration of his life in Palm Desert on June 26.