November 29, 1927 – May 10, 2024
Bob grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, obtained his BS in engineering from University of Michigan, and MS and PhD in from Stanford, and never left the Bay Area. He taught mechanical engineering at Stanford, and was internationally renowned in the field of heat transfer. Bob enjoyed mentoring and remained in close touch with his grad students, who are now making important contributions in their fields as professors, deans and scientists in the US and abroad. He initiated and maintained the Stanford Affiliates program, linking education to the world of commerce. His was no ordinary retirement: he continued speaking, consulting and writing technical papers. On the eve of the pandemic his book, co-authored by big data scientist Roy Henk, was published.
The more challenges, technical or physical, the better. He cycled from Vancouver to Tijuana with his dear friend and colleague, Dr. Al Hackel., and conquered mighty Galena Pass in Idaho. With Dr. Hackel he developed the Holley-Medal-winning infant transport incubator. A man for all seasons, Bob flexed his gourmet muscles, where his signature dish was saumon á l’oseille (salmon in sorrel sauce), and relaxed at the Sun Valley Music Festival with family, friends, his poodles, and a glass of wine. How he relished trout fishing in Silver Creek, Idaho! Pinpointing where the rainbow trout perfected and defended the nest to attract a partner, Bob opened up a new world to his son John.
He and Karina regularly hiked in the local mountains with an international group of scientists who could identity every single plant, not to mention opine with the encyclopedic breadth about western civilization and world affairs. To prepare Karina for a cycling tour of Provence, he got her in shape by surreptitiously flattening her tires during 6 months of training. His devious methods were notable – and effective! Devoting himself entirely to everything he undertook, during a dive in Fiji, he barely returned from the deep, such was his concentration.
With his path illuminated by a grand display of northern lights, Bob left his body on Friday, May 10, 2024. Dearly loved by his wife and amanuensis of 23 years, Karina Nilsen, he is survived by his son, John, nieces Jenifer (Dave) Stover and Julie (John) Hilton and their families; he was predeceased by his mother, Annie, father George, siblings George, and June. He was proud of John entering the teaching profession. Alas, Bob succumbed to a long decline caused by dementia. Mitigating the harsh dictates of the illness were the extraordinary angels at Hidden Lane Villa in Los Altos, and Hospice of the Valley, where he received love, devotion, and attentive care to the end.
You’re one of a kind. We miss you. RIP, dear one.
