Robert was born on September 21, 1941, in the Los Angeles, California General Hospital to Mary and Bruno. Raised in the Claremont, CA Barrio (https://claremontheritage.org/barrios.html), he enjoyed playing his trumpet and competing in football, track and baseball. Playing The Great American Pastime with childhood friends and family at the local Barrio Park led to captaincy of Claremont High School’s Varsity Baseball team and an All-American selection his senior year in 1959. His baseball endeavors continued at Chaffey College and San Diego State University with newspapers chronicling his journey. In 1963, Robert earned his Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Management at San Diego State University.
Putting God and Country before family, Robert began his three years of military service by joining the Army on July 2, 1964. After a mere four months he became Sergeant Palos on November 16, 1964. Six months later he was promoted as fully commissioned Officer Palos on May 10, 1965. After three subsequent weeks, Robert was stationed in Wolfgang, Germany as Commander of the 1193rd Field Artillery Unit. It was his commitment to God and Country that led him to learn how to speak German, his third fluent language, and to find his wife of 58 years, Ulrike Elisabeth Fischer. Married in Hanau, Germany on May 4, 1966, they began the foundation of Robert’s patriarchy. With the best yet to come, the newlyweds moved back to the United States on July 1, 1966. Robert honorably completed his three years, one month and nine days of service on August 10, 1967.
Back as a U.S. civilian and after a period of working at General Dynamics, Robert attended La Verne University to obtain his Master’s Degree and teaching credentials. He began his twenty-six-year career as an Ontario-Montclair School District teacher on September 9, 1970, at Euclid Elementary. As a highly admired teacher and role model, he moved from Euclid to Howard Elementary and selflessly committed summer hours as a summer school teacher at Kingsley Elementary. He was a positive influence on thousands of students, parents and fellow educators throughout his career, from which he retired on his birthday in 1996.
During the same timespan as an educator, Robert became the father of three boys, Mark (1973), Mathew (1974) and Martin (1975). Robert was fully engaged with his family by spending time together teaching, playing and joking. Whether it was dancing with his wife, playing catch with his sons, watching a Dodger game, playing a game of horse, playing chess, golfing or vacationing at King’s Coronita in Ensenada, he would enrich each and every experience. Robert was a leader as a soccer and baseball coach of youth teams on which his sons played and teams on which his sons did not so he could give back to his community. Robert worked hard and diligently to provide the best possible environment for his family to thrive. From volunteer work as a coach to years of evening and weekend shifts at the Montclair Recreation Center, he constantly demonstrated what working smart and hard can bring to the table.
Until his retirement, the witty and wise Robert had many nicknames - Son, Bobby, Bob, Dad and Pop. Soon after retirement, he also became Opa to four grandchildren, Ryan (1997), Brianna (1998), Matt (2002) and Rylie (2017). With Robert’s favorite number being 4, it was God’s will for him to have the complete number of grandchildren. He was a wonderful Opa with a positive outlook, supportive words and moments shared that made each grandchild feel uniquely special. He attended countless family, school and sporting events for his grandchildren and always smiled with pride being their Opa. His prideful smile only widened at the birth of his first great grandchild, Reign (2022).
Robert enjoyed an extensive, active and balanced life. He managed to make time for BBQing, camping, fishing, traveling, running, baseball, football, handball, soccer, chess, golf, poker, history, landscaping, crossword puzzles, and avidly reading among many other things. He was a modern-day Renaissance Man who maximized his 82+ years serving his God, Country and Family. Robert “Bobby” Palos enriched all our lives on Earth and entered Heaven a fulfilled man.
“It was a good gig!”
- Robert “Bobby” Palos, 2024
Robert is survived by his wife, Ulrike; two sons Mark (Dana) and Martin; four grandchildren, Ryan (Martha), Brianna, Matt, and Rylie; one great grandchild, Reign; sister, Corinne (Jon); brother, Roger.
Robert's family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his honor as "Officer Robert Palos" to Disabled American Veterans at https://www.dav.org.
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