Bob's Own Words

Robert W. (Bob) Lewis passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on August 8th at his home in Saratoga, at the age of 89. He was the second oldest of four children of Ramon F. and Helen C. Lewis. He is preceded in death by his wife of almost 62 years, Joan D. Lewis. He is survived by his four children: James Lewis, Mary (Scott) Schiefer, Ramon (Susan) Lewis, and Rebecca (Allan) Hogue. Bob was the loving grandfather of 8: Zachary, Joanna (Ryan) Cook, Dustin, Samantha, Kimberly, Nathan, Allan Jr., and Julie, and great grandfather of Leila and Max. He is survived by his brother, Alan, and sister, Carole Lattanzio.

Bob was born in Fulton, New York and received his bachelor degree in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing at the New York State College of Forestry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. He entered the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Training station in Sheepshead Bay, NY in 1944 and served 18 months sailing on ships to a number of foreign countries.

He was employed by Container Corporation of America for 36 years and by their successor, Jefferson Smurfit Corporation, for an additional 6 years. He retired after three years consulting. He held a number of positions in production, technical, management, engineering, and research in number of locations including Mexico, and consulted at company's paper mills in Venezuela and Colombia and many of their folding carton plants.

Following graduation, Bob transferred to the West Coast in 1951, and later that year, following his marriage to Joan in the East, settled in the Los Angeles area. They relocated seven times in the first 14 years of married life, as requested by Bob's company, until they reached the Bay area and became permanent residents of Saratoga.

Bob was an active communicant of Sacred Heart Parish; a member of the Serra Club of Santa Clara, Knights of Columbus, Council 4981; American Legion, Post #099, and American Merchant Marine Veterans, a past president of Good Government Group of Saratoga, a founding member of the Saratoga Park Commission, and taught the AARP senior safe driving course for 10 years in Saratoga and San Jose.

The Family's Words

Yes, our Dad wrote his own obituary. He also provided his children with a 4 inch binder with instructions on every specific detail of what to do after he passed, complete with pre-paid receipts for every conceivable cost associated with his transition, including extra cash to tip Alameda Family Funeral Home.

That considerate and thoughtful attention to detail provides a glimpse into the character of the man who has provided his children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren, with unlimited love, compassion, support, guidance and opportunity.

Our dad was strong, responsible, competent, bright, organized, self-sufficient, generous, loving, kind, fun, adventurous, honorable, elegant, trust worthy, loyal, measured, accomplished, . . . . . . . . . there are not enough words to honor this beautiful man.

The dignified manner in which our father led his life, protected his family, honored our mother and served his Creator, is by all measure the perfect barometer by which we should conduct ourselves. Our dad may be gone, but he will always remain in our hearts, and when we find ourselves in a difficult situation or facing a moral crossroad, we need only to pause, take a breath and ask ourselves one question - "What would Dad do?" The answer will always guide us in the right direction.

Friends are invited to a Funeral Mass to Celebrate Bob's life at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 . A private interment will immediately follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Guests are invited to a reception following Mass at the Parish Center adjacent to Sacred Heart Church. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to Sacred Heart Church, 13716 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070.