Robert M. Witkop's Obituary
Robert M. Witkop Jr., aged 76, died September 26, 2016, with his wife and family by his side in La Jolla, California. Bob (as we all lovingly know him by) was born May 9, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan to Eileen and Robert Witkop Sr. He leaves behind his wife Patricia, daughters, Caroline, Cathleen and Marianne; sisters, Alice and Penelope; brothers, David, Aaron and Leo; son, Bill; grandkids, Brittany, Fallon, Aidan, Dominic, Tristan, Garrison, Marco, Jonah, Rowan, Isla; step-son Todd and step-daughter Jennifer and faithful dog Sparky. Bob was an amazing father, brother, husband and friend. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. As a father, he had a way of making you feel better no matter the situation. He had a true gift for telling stories. All those around him would still laugh no matter how many times we’d hear those stories and believe us, we have heard them quite a few times in the past few decades! As a young child, he had many interests but they seemed to involve some level of mischievousness (as his older children came to find out when his mother divulged tale after tale of naughtiness that left you smiling). Let’s just say he was a tinkerer who liked to take apart things and put them back together. On many occasions he discovered what the word “electric shock” meant but that didn’t stop him from being curious. That brings us to the next characteristic to describe Bob which is persistent. If he set his mind to something, well, it was going to get done no matter what. After he graduated from high school, he joined the Army where he served as a Medic for 3 years while stationed in Japan. In Japan, he met his first wife, Yukiko. After marrying and moving back to the states, they settled in Southern California and had three daughters. Bob graduated from Cal State Northridge in 1970’s with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and eventually left his job as a Lab Technician to become a Software Engineer which really was his true calling. He left Southern California with family in tow and headed to San Jose, California to become a Software Engineer at GTE Sylvania. After his first marriage ended he moved to Illinois which allowed him to be closer to his Mother, Father and siblings. Eventually though, shoveling snow year after year was not in the deck of cards for him and he ventured back to California, this time settling back in Southern California where he found his next true love, a 40′ boat appropriately named Proper Toi. There were many great memories on that boat! He eventually moved to San Diego where he met his last true love, his wife Patty. He lovingly always said that he had to break his back to meet her (he was in the hospital with a broken back and she worked in Radiology which is how they met). They enjoyed their weekends on the boat in Coronado. He was an avid bike rider easily powering through 30 mile bike rides well into his 70’s. He had participated in many Century rides and even endured indoor spinning classes (he was not a fan of working out indoors but loved putting the resistance all the way up and powering through the class). To say he was a glutton for punishment would be quite the understatement! He enjoyed family BBQ’s and had recently bought a Traeger smoker for the ultimate meat experience. He would not let anyone down with his BBQing expertise! All who knew Bob, knows that he enjoyed his family, his computers, his biking and his Michelob Ulltra Lights. He loved to laugh and it was contagious. He will truly be missed by all who were blessed to know him.“A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 13th at Loews Coronado Bay Resort at 10:30 am. Morning refreshments will be served.In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to your own church or charity of your choice in memory of Bob.”
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