Robert Stewart Obituary

Robert Gordon Stewart Age 64 of San Francisco died peacefully with family at his side at Stanford University Hospital in the early morning of February 17, 2012, from the result of injuries suffered from a fall the evening before. Bob was a loving and loyal husband, brother, nephew, uncle, coworker, friend and neighbor. He had a deep love and affection for animals, particularly his wonderful Goldens. His sincere interest in people and his great sense of humor will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Bob was born on November 20, 1947 in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada the son of Gordon Turnbull Stewart and Bernice Rhoda Beardall both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his devoted aunt, Kathleen Fisher. On June 23, 1984, in Los Altos, California Bob married his best friend Carol Tooker. In addition to his wife Carol, Bob is survived by his sister Patricia Ann (husband Steven) McNeely of Sacramento; uncles Weston Clifford Fisher of Palo Alto and James Beardall (wife Liliaine) of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada; his cousin Weston Arnold Fisher (wife Shirley) of Stow, Massachusetts; parent-in-laws Edwin and Pauline Tooker; sister-in-laws Jean Elizabeth (husband Ted) Stephens of Palo Alto, Christine Ruth (husband Roger) Thomas of Lake Oswego, Oregon; nephews Matthew Wilson Stephens of Palo Alto, Brian Keith (wife Dianne) Stephens of Redwood City; nieces, Megan Elizabeth Thomas, and Jacqueline Marie Thomas both of Lake Oswego, Oregon and Brenda Kay (husband Scot) Smithee of Hollister. Bob graduated from Arizona State University in 1973, was an owner of Enzo's Ristorante in the Embarcadero Center and was most recently employed as a Sales Representative for Southern Wine & Spirits of Northern California. Bob had many friends in the restaurant and food industry. He was a stanch Stanford, San Francisco Giants, and 49's fan and loved walking his Golden Retriever, Button, in his North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. Bob was a member of the Teamsters Union, Local # 853. The family greatly appreciates the compassion and caring of the staff at Stanford University Hospital's Intensive Care Unit and Neurology Department. Memorials on behalf of Bob may be given to the Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary (www.homewardboundgoldens.org/donating/howto) or any other charity of your choice. A memorial gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be left for the family at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/ or by leaving an e-mail for the family at [email protected]

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Mar. 9 to Mar. 12, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Stewart

9 Entries

Westy Fisher

April 29, 2012

I'm Wes Fisher, Bob's cousin, and Carol has asked that I welcome everyone this afternoon and say a few words about Bob on behalf of his family.
Bob, Patti (his sister) and I grew up together as kids in Menlo Park, and I was more like Bob and Patti's older brother than I was a cousin, as you may notice from the photographs of Bob as a boy, and the collage of Bob's life playing on the screen over there.
He and Patti and I were born in Canada, and for a little while when I was nine, I lived with his parents, his mother (Bernice Stewart – Aunty Bunny, I called her) and Bobby's father Gordy Stewart – a mining engineer, in a mining town high in the mountains, reachable by ships that traveled up the British Columbia coast north of Vancouver. The town at that time was reachable only by a cable drawn railroad called the Skip, and I went to a school in a one room school house. Bobby was only 4 years old then, and Patti was just a baby.
My parents and I moved to Menlo Park from Canada in 1952, when my dad, who is a telecommunications engineer landed work in the Bay Area in early days of Silicon Valley's development. When Bob's own dad died of leukemia at a tragically young age, Aunty Bunny with her two young children, Bobby and Patti joined us in California in 1953, and from then on we were like one family. I never felt like an only child because Bob and Patti were so much a part of our lives.
Instead of turning inward after the death of her young husband, Bob's mom (my Aunty Bunny), grabbed hold of life. She used her warmth, drive and optimism to become a successful high school administrator, while showing unconditional and boundless love and devotion to her two kids.
That's a small part of Bob's history. But words can't do more than paint two dimensional portraits, and they can't come close to summing up more than a tiny fraction of who we were or are?Bob with his hearty laugh, his playful, thoughtful eyes, his ready humor. Bob with his deep deep love for Carol? the person who transformed him, and gave him such joy. Bob with his pride and dedication to his work and his remarkable accomplishments as a sales rep. His enthusiasm for sports and political argument, and his defense of all good things American.
His never ending love for his sister. Patti's love her brother is in every family photo where they appear together, and it was Patti who made sure so many of those photos were preserved.
For me, Bob will always be the quiet little guy, with the gentle eyes, and the ears that stuck out like mine, the two of us looking like baby elephants. Steve, Patti's husband, particularly liked the photo of him on the beach near Pescadero, his sunglasses askew, with a goofy little boy smile. That's the Bob I know still.
But I moved away from California in 1966 and while my wife Shirley and I would see Carol and Bob on our trips home from Africa, I missed much of what was most real in his adult life?his life at Arizona State at Tempe where he got his degree in Business, his wonderful marriage to Carol, his years as the owner of Enzo's near the Embarcadero in San Francisco, and the circle of friends and colleagues who were drawn to him for who he was.
Carol asked me to mention how he really cared and was truly interested in people he met?he could talk to anyone and find common ground with all. He was mentor to many, and loved by his neighbors. He was a good listener and people opened up to him. He was truly loyal to all, his friends, his family, his colleagues.
He found much humor in life's situations, and gave us all good advice when asked. His laugh is always going to be with us.
Bob loved sports and faithfully followed the Giants, Stanford football and the 49ers. He kept up with teams, but also the games of neighborhood kids, and he attended their athletic events when he could.
Carol says, he was also (apparently) the only person on their block on Stockton who knew how to crawl under a parked car with stuck horn at 3:00 in the morning and disengage it so everyone in the neighborhood could get some sleep.
In more recent times he and Carol had become an even more important part of my dad's life, watching football games and the Giants, and eating out together regularly on the weekends.
My wife Shirley and I last saw Bob at a lunch over the Thanksgiving holiday at Rosewood's on Sand Hill Road with Carol, Bob and my dad. Bob's smile and laugh and happiness were much in evidence. At 64 he was proud of working flat out and accepting the challenge.
Carol very much appreciates all your kind words, cards and calls. The friendships that Bob shared with you all mean so much to her, and she enjoys hearing all your wonderful stories. Now, as I conclude, Carol would like all of you who have more stories about him, to add your own recollections of the parts of his life you remember, as a tribute to his memory and to those of us who cherish him.
I'll end my own short tribute to him with a poem.

Bob Stewart

On the beach at Pescadero
a kite flutters and dodges in the wind
the string tight in a young boy's hand
It flutters and turns and grows smaller
and almost lifts Bobby from the ground
Kite of dreams, Kite of wishes
Who are you, it asks?
We hold our baseball gloves up high against the sun
squinting while my dad hits fly balls to us down the beach
Then, even then, we sensed the fleeting lightness of being
not knowing who we would become
nor understanding how quickly our stories would close
and the new ones form
Smile for us Bob
Make us all smile
Don't go away
Stay close
Give us these memories
comfort us
embrace us
remember us
as we are with you
as we will be with you
and join us for dinner at Duarte's someday soon

Bill Wamsley

April 14, 2012

So sorry to get this news. Stew was a great roommate back in the 70s when we both worked for the Victoria Station restaurant group. We shared some very funny times. My sincere condolences to his family.

Kari Gregory

March 25, 2012

Hi Carol,

I was so sorry to hear of your husband's passing and wish you all the best during this difficult time. I think of you often and miss our times together at the firm. Please know Chris and my prayers and thoughts are with you. Our very best. Remember to take care of yourself.

Chris and Kari Gregory

Rick D'Alessandro

March 22, 2012

I was deeply saddened to hear of Bob's passing. Although we had not been in touch in recent years, some of the best times of my life were shared with Bob. I will remember him fondly. My deepest sympathies to his family.

Bill Shine

March 16, 2012

I am very, very sorry about his passing

March 16, 2012

When I first met Bob at Menlo-Atherton High School in 1961, he was always smiling and always had an over-the-top story or joke to make you laugh. Bob will always be remembered for his joy for life and his big, contagious smile.

Tom Stapleton

Nancy D'Alessandro

March 11, 2012

I was sorry to hear of Bob's passing. My deepest sympathies. I will remember Bob as a warm, compassionate man.
Nancy D'Alessandro

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