Robert Otto Paul Benz

Benz, Robert Otto Paul Of La Jolla, California Formerly of St. Paul "Bob," as his friends knew him, was a loving husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather. He passed away on July 21, 2009. His parents, Otto & Harriet, raised Bob with his cousin Ginny Norstrem in St. Paul, MN. Bob kept in touch with many of his Minnesota friends throughout his life. Two words describe Bob Benz, "automatic friend." In 1963, Bob graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a Master's Degree in Business and soon thereafter joined the Marine Corps in Camp Pendleton, CA, in charge of dispensing supplies, where he made many friends. Early in his career Bob was a communications pioneer, selling beepers, two-way radios and some of the very first cell phones for Motorola. Many of Bob's best friends in life came during his days selling beepers. But his biggest challenge in his life was raising his three stepsons, who became his boys with his wife of 31 years, Sonny. Bob was the equalizer, a person that one went to for advice, support and balance. Bob loved to cook and barbeque, and having a meal at the Benz house was a special occasion. Later in life, Bob became involved in commercial real estate, selling and managing buildings and running his own company in Del Mar, Pacific Real Estate Group. Bob made many friends in real estate. Bob is survived in life by his wife, Sonny Benz of La Jolla; stepsons, Lance, Matt and Grant Milbrand; as well as ten grandchildren and three cousins. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit Avenue, Mail # Dev, St. Paul, MN 55105 or UC Regents C/O Donations for Pulmonary Hypertension Program, 9300 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-7381. Services will be held on Thursday July 30, 10:30am at Saint Brigid Catholic Church, 4735 Cass Street, Pacific Beach, CA. Private inurnment will be held at Fort Rosecrans at a later date.