ROBERT LAUTER

Robert Stanford
Lauter, z'l
Dec. 25, 1928 - Oct. 1, 2012
Bob Lauter passed away peacefully the morning of October 1st, after a long struggle with illness. He leaves behind a wonderful legacy: his wife of 61 years, Naomi; his four children, David (Liz), Jonathan (Deborah), Sarah, and Sam (Stephanie); his ten grandchildren, Louie (Mara), Devorah (Jean Bernard), Mimi, Rachel, Jesse, Margie, Eliana, Shoshana, Aliza, Jacob, and Great-Granddaughter Mollie.
Bob was a fourth generation San Franciscan, growing up in the Marina District before his parents moved around the West Coast during the Depression. He returned to the Bay Area to attend the University of California, at Berkeley, where he was set up on a blind date with Naomi while she was attending Lowell High School. It was the day of the Big Game and it took Bob four hours to get to San Francisco from Palo Alto, but she went out with him anyway and they've been together ever since. After Cal, Bob graduated from Hastings Law School, became a member of the California Bar Association and then joined his father-in-law's company, Ets-Hokin & Galvan Electrical Construction.
Bob had many passions and was engaged in numerous organizations. He was the first Chair of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Northern California Board of Directors in 1963, the organization he gave the most time and energy. Among many other activities, he also was Chair of Israel Bonds, President of the Bureau of Jewish Education, Chair of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and, one of his personal favorites, Chair of the late Leo McCarthy's first political campaign for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Leo won that race and went on to be Speaker of the California Assembly and California Lt. Governor. Over the years Bob's guidance was sought out by numerous other organizations and individuals, but his community devotion was primarily to AIPAC and whatever his friends needed.
An avid birder, one of his favorite moments was when he was hiking through a forest at dusk in the Grand Tetons and nearly lost his hat to a Great Grey Owl. He had many other birding stories he enjoyed sharing, almost all of them true. He was also a devoted San Francisco Giants fan, having attended his first Major League game at the old Polo Fields in New York. The 2010 World Series Championship never ceased to bring a smile to his face and he was absolutely sure Willie Mays was the greatest player ever.
Perhaps his favorite passion was art. He was a dedicated collector and partner of Feingold Gallery in the late '50s and early' 60s and Traditional Artifacts in the 80's. He was also extremely proud of helping launch Art Forum Magazine. His loves ranged from North American Native and Mexican tribal art to California Abstract Expressionism, and everything in between.
But his friends and family are what truly made him happy. Other than his family, he didn't enjoy anything more than being with his friends. Whether it was in Ashland at the Shakespeare Festival, on some trail looking for a new bird for his life list, at the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning or at the movies, his friends gave him great joy.
But as an extremely proud and devoted husband and father, nothing brought a smile to his face quicker or easier than a conversation with or story about his grandkids. It didn't matter whether it was their accomplishments at work, school or their latest hobby, enthusiasm or sport, he wanted to know every detail and couldn't stop beaming while listening to every word. His family will greatly miss catching him up on the latest news, and watching him take it in with huge pleasure.
Funeral services will be held on October 4, 2012, at 1:00 P.M. at The Tamalpais, 501 Via Casitas, Greenbrae.
If you are considering a donation, please make a contribution to AIPAC (P.O. Box 207, San Francisco, CA 94104), the Jewish Community Federation (121 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA 94105) or CARE (c/o Margie Luter, 1825 "I" Street, NW, Suite 301, Washington, D.C. 20006).