Robert Imber

January 21, 1950 - April 2021

The preservation community mourns the passing of beloved architectural historian and educator Robert Imber, who died in Wonder Valley, California earlier this month. Throughout his colorful life, Robert, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, was a passionate enthusiast of architecture and design --his accomplishments too numerous to name. Highlights include establishing MUSARCH, a museum of architecture in Alto Capistrano, in a building designed by famed architect John Lautner. Others include becoming a founding member of the Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom) where he served as Chairman of the Education Committee and initiated the organization's Annual Preservation Awards, a high school scholarship program and the curriculum for St. Theresa Catholic School's Modernism Projects. "Education! Education! Education!" was Robert's lifelong mantra and he lived by these words every day of his life.

He started Palm Springs Modern Tours in 2001, giving small groups of visitors and valley residents a crash course on Palm Springs midcentury modern architecture. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential people who helped Palm Springs to regain its gravitas not as a playground for celebrities, but as an architectural destination. Robert was a member of many other preservation organizations, most notably the California Preservation Foundation. In 2009 he was honored as Preservationist of the Year by PS ModCom, and in 2016 he received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame located in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center.

Robert was predeceased by parents Norman Imber and Emilie Mildred Imber (Stein), brother Mark Imber and nephew Charlie Imber. He is survived by sister Joan Wine and nephews Danny Imber, David Baroway, and niece Julie Nolan. Robert will be laid to rest at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills following a private family funeral.

A celebration of Robert's life is being planned by the Palm Springs Modern Committee. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to PS ModCom's Education Committee to fund a scholarship in Robert's name: P.O. Box 4738, Attn: Nickie McLaughlin, Palm Springs, CA 92263 or online here: https://psmodcom.org/robert-imber/

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Desert Sun from Apr. 22 to Apr. 28, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Imber

Sponsored by thedesertsun.com.

4 Entries

Michael Hyman

February 14, 2023

After moving to Palm Springs in 2014, on a lark we took Robert´s tour in his van one day to get a feel for the town. Hours later I emerged, tears in my eyes, overwhelmed by Robert´s colorful clarity, his contagious enthusiasm. I remember saying "this may be the best tour I have ever done in years of travel". It led to my becoming a docent for the PS Historical Society Walking Tours, and 8 years of increasing involvement in helping visitors enjoy our city. This I owe to him. I never lost my appreciation, admiration and affection for Robert. He was one of a kind. The world is a far better place for his having lived.

Michael Hyman

October 17, 2021

On an early trip to Palm Springs, on a lark, knowing nothing about modernism, we signed on to one of his tours about town. His enthusiasm, depth and humor and love for PS so reached me that tears filled my eyes as I thanked him. That day I planned volunteering for the Walking Tours of the PS Historical Society which has been my major interest since 2014. Robert always said hi with a smile, masking his enormous erudition. He was my role model at 70!, and I mourn his passing.

Jody Lumerman

May 4, 2021

Robert was more than a modern man.. more than a man who embodied a passion for architecture, for modernism, for the desert... Robert was a dear friend of ours, a man who made us laugh, who was our most treasured dinner guest as many times a week as he would allow us to host him. His timing, his knowledge, his grace, his laugh, his hats, his outfits, his vision, his eclectic style, his assuredness, his quirky sweet vibe, and his gentle soul will surely be missed by me and my family.. and I say with a very heavy heart that Palm
Springs will not be the same without him.. my son was born there in that very special place and as much as I love it, it will be missing a very special man in a very special hat... ❤

John McQuilkin

May 2, 2021

Thank you Robert Imber for all you did for Palm Springs mid-century modern architecture. No one will ever replace you. You will be greatly missed.

John McQuilkin

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