Notes From People Who Love You
Notes From People Who Love You
Happy Birthy Birthday Abuelo Bob. It’s amazing how much of an impact you’ve had on me and the lives of the kids. We love you!
Vic
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Eight decades of life, and you have officially achieved the impossible status of being the only Californian Republican hippie surfer dude we have ever met.
While Jim is still deeply jealous of your magnificent, flowing hair, the rest of us are just in awe of how you manage to balance military discipline, local politics, and catching the perfect wave.
In all seriousness, your history of military service and your longstanding dedication to your community are truly inspiring.
More than that, we admire and respect you for your unwavering friendship and for being such a wonderful, irreplaceable member of our family.
We hope your 80th year brings great health, smooth seas, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. Keep those letters and news clippings coming!
With all our love (your New York fan club),
Jim, Liane, Madeline, and Lydia
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Bob,
Happy 80th!! You were such a cherished friend to Jim through many years. I know he wishes you a damn good day….as do I. Happy Birthday,
Jeannie Eichmeier
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Uncle Bob!
Happy 80th my friend!! How in the world am I 50 and you're 80?!?! Clearly a lifetime of memories reminds us how we got here and you have been the quintessential historian of our weighty Gillis novel. Your loyalty and commitment to so many is unparalleled. With the care you give our Gillis crew, I know there are countless other groups in which you're the glue that holds the stories, the reunions, the communications together. Thank you for holding my dad and I close all these. Your counsel has held me up numerous times and I appreciate that you and I have our unique friendship aside from you and my dad. I know you would do anything for the two of us and move mountains if you had to to keep us safe and sound. Thank you always for that and know I always celebrate you.
With love,
Carly AKA “Jolly” Rogers
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Bob
Wishing you a wonderful 80th birthday celebration!
Take a moment to reflect on a life truly well lived—marked by distinguished service to your country and community, and by an unwavering devotion to your family and friends. You have touched countless lives through your generosity, integrity, and enduring spirit.
May the years ahead bring you continued health, happiness, and the opportunity to keep sharing the kindness and wisdom that have made such a lasting difference.
Now, time to celebrate. I look forward to joining you in the near future and raising a glass together. I added a photo to the album - of the man and his vista.
All the best,
Rick (your favorite bro-in-law)
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Bob,
Happy 80th! We keep thinking about how you and BJ started out as our landlords in Manhattan Beach and somehow very quickly became the closest thing Nate and I have to family out here. We don’t have blood relatives on this coast — you two are it, and you’ve never let distance or a change of address get in the way of that. Even after we moved away, you both kept showing up for us. That’s rare, and we don’t take it for granted.
I always look forward to our dinners — not just for the company, but for the stories. You’ve lived a life most people only read about, and the way you tell it, Vietnam and all, makes it feel like we’re sitting right there with you. You’re one of the most practical, clear-eyed people we know, and somehow also one of the most generous — you’d give anyone the shirt off your back, but especially us.And can we talk about the fact that you barely look 70, let alone 80? Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.
Thank you for every story, for every dinner, for every phone call over the years, and for being exactly who you are. Next time we break bread together, we’re raising a glass to you — 80 years of you being exactly who you are and here’s to many more! We love you. Happy Birthday!
Jill & Nate Zinn
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Happy 80th birthday Bob!
It’s hard to believe we’ve been friends for 45 years. Through all those years you’ve been one of the truest, kindest and most loyal friend anyone could ever hope to have.
One thing you’ve always said is “you can never have too many friends,” and no one has lived those words better than you. You’ve spent a lifetime bringing people together, making everyone feel welcome, and creating friendships that have lasted decades. We’ve shared so many unforgettable memories from wonderful days at the beach, whale watching in Mexico, countless trips to Cabo, and amazing concerts with great friends. One of my favorite memories will always be seeing Frank Sinatra . Those are moments I’ll treasure forever.
And then there were seven years, filled with nonstop, laughter, crazy adventures, and unforgettable fun. We laughed until we cried more times and I can count, probably at someone else’s expense! Oops.
Seeing how happy you are today with your wonderful wife, BJ, is such a joy. You truly deserve all the happiness that life is brought you. On your 80th birthday, I wish you continued good health, happiness, laughter, and many more wonderful years together with BJ, surrounded by the countless friends whose lives you’ve touched. Thank you for being a special friend all these years.
Happy birthday Bob! Here’s to a life well lived, and to many more beautiful memories ahead.
With Love ,
Marianne
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Happy Birthday Charles Holmes
I’m hearing a lot of conversation regarding MILE STONES. I guess they are talking about
The number 80. Puhey a mile stone in our vocabulary would be 100 years. Now that’s something to work on.
Do we have any stories to chat about, maybe our trip to Baja with the 356 Porsche. All we did was fight over who would get to drive when the road got twisty. But then there is the Holme’s Mobile, Corvair, with every repair part for any situation that we might encounter with two non mechanics. We did not have tools to fix the bridges in mex though. They had forgotten to properly connect the actual solid concrete bridge to the raised dirt that created the overpass. A little rain either side of the bridge footing was washed away.
We could go back as far as College. Most all of my essays were corrected by yourself. Late night sessions with my learning where to place a paragraph, how to spell, maybe a change of wording here and there. One essay came back with a ready to publish note from the professor!!
Just a damn great friend. Looking forward to the next 20.
Buddha
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Bob, Happy Birthday! Thanks for everything you have done for our town and always being a voice of reason and wisdom. It’s always a pleasure to see you down at the bottom of my street - lifts my spirits just to see you there, and I always enjoy our discussions. From a fellow bodysurfer who eschews the surfboards, I hope you enjoy the 51st anniversary of your 29th birthday!
-Greg Lesser & Family
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Happy birthday, Bob!
We’ve met only once and I don’t know you well, but it’s clear that you’re more than special to your stepdaughter and her family as well as many others, all of which makes me very happy.
I wish you much good health and happiness in the years ahead. I live with many people in their late 80s and 90s – even 100+! – who are doing better than we could ever have imagined as we were growing up.Take care of yourself – don’t fall! – and savor all the love coming your way.
All the best,
Luise
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