Robert "Bobby" Serrano

Robert B. Serrano was born to Roberto and Sara Serrano on March 5, 1957 in Bakersfield, California. Robert went home to be with his Lord Jesus on February 9, 2018. He was known as “Robert”, “Bob” and “Bobby” to all that knew him and loved him.

Robert grew up in Bakersfield, CA where he attended Stine school and Thompson Jr. High. He graduated from West High School in 1975. He left Bakersfield to attend Fresno State University but moved back to Bakersfield in 1979. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from CSB in 1981. He completed his formal education at University of Phoenix where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business/ Marketing in 1990.

Robert has 1 brother and 2 sisters. He married Barbara Sue Field on November 14,1981. Robert and Barbara have three children and three grandchildren.

Robert worked for United California Bank while he attended CSB. He was then hired by Campbell Soup Company in 1982. He worked for Campbell’s Soup Company until the mid-2000’s when he left the corporate world and semi-retired. Robert then worked for the Natren Company who produced and sold probiotics. The last 12 years Robert obtained his insurance license and worked for AFLAC and Colonial Life insurance companies. Robert met many people while selling insurance but two became very close friends. Gary Chambless worked with Robert at AFLAC for about 6 years before they both moved companies. Jeff Burns started working with Robert recently but they became fast friends. Gary and Jeff both expressed a great affection and love Robert and will miss him dearly.

Robert and Barbara were married in 1982 and lived in Bakersfield. They bought their first home in the Oleander area in August of 1982. His first child, Andrea Elizabeth Serrano, was born on September 12, 1983. In 1985, Robert was promoted and he bought his second home in Valencia and moved his new family over the hill. Robert was not finished and on August 21, 1987 his second child was born, a little girl, Anna Marie Serrano. Robert and Barbara lived in Valencia until 1989, when Robert took another promotion and his office was moved to Brea, CA. Robert wanted to live closer to his office due to the commute, so he decided to move to Corona Hills, CA. On April 22, 1990, Robert’s third child was born, “A BOY”, John Robert Serrano.

Robert worked his way up in the Campbell’s Soup Company. He started as a sales representative then became a supervisor. Over the years of exemplary performance and dedication, he was promoted to Account Manager. He managed one of their largest accounts, Costco. His office in Brea closed around 1997 and Robert started working from home. He converted the third car garage into a home office and during his career with Campbell’s he travel the entire United States. He entertained clients at some of the best restaurants in the country, played golf at Pebble Beach. He won a sales contest that Campbell’s Chunky Soup promoted and the first prize was being invited to the Oakland Raider’s training camp. Robert attended the camp and met and ate lunch with Al Davis and Howie Long. In 1995, Robert won a 7 day and 6 night Hawaiian cruise for his entire family. One of the best vacations the family took together. Campbell’s Sales Company would award their top performers each year. The most prestigious award was called the “Merit Award”. The Merit Award was a figure that resembled the golden Oscar awarded at the Academy Awards. Robert won the Merit Award 5 times during his lustrous career with Campbell’s.

Robert loved to be involved whether it was being the president of the Home Owner’s Association, refereeing soccer, coaching soccer, starting a soccer club or ushering at church. He had a passion for compassion and perfection. He would go to any length to help a friend reface a fireplace or take a young girl under his wing by making sure she got to all practices and games even if he had to leave an hour early each time to make sure she had the same opportunity as all the other girls.

ROBERT LOVED THE GAME OF SOCCER !!! He would describe during his growing up years how he would sit with his father and watch soccer. At that time, soccer was not popular in the United States but the Mexican television stations would televise games every weekend. When his oldest daughter Andrea was 9 years old Barbara signed her up for AYSO. She never imagining what an adventure was about to unfold. Robert immediately took classes to referee. Robert and the kids would spend every Saturday from sun up to sun down at Shearer Field in Norco. He would referee, both girls would have games in which he coached, he would assist the other volunteers with player cards, registration and much more. At the end of the day, he would make sure all the trash was picked up, all the goal nets were accounted for and the equipment was locked securely in the storage bins. He would then lock the gates until the next weekend. The kids were given a gift by witnessing his example of effort, the giving of his time and the heart in which he put into every aspect of his commitment while he me, befriended and touched others. His children were given a beautiful gift by his example of his commitment, sacrifice, leadership and love for others.

When Robert became a referee in AYSO, he strived to become the best. He obtained a Level 3 referee status and referred any time he could for AYSO, Club soccer and adult leagues. Robert also started a club team with a friend in Corona. The Corona Eagles soccer club was his pride and joy. Robert also coached his children’s teams and then started a girl’s club team that was very successful. Robert touched many of the young girl’s lives he coached and left a lifetime impression with them. Many of the girls Robert coached tell Anna to this day that he was instrumental in their love of the game and learning life long lessons they carry with them still that assisted in their success as a young adult.

ROBERT LOVED MOVIES !!! Robert is estimated to own at least 2,000 movies ... if not more. When Robert and Barbara were first married, VHS movies and players were just becoming available for home use. Robert looked forward to Friday because he would buy Sam’s Pizza Boat pizza and rent 3 movies. For those of you that remember Sam’s Pizza Boat pizza, it was the BEST! Robert, however; loved Pizzaville Pizza too and if it was not Sam’s pizza it was Pizzaville pizza for the Friday night movie fest. Robert continued his love of movies throughout his life, he would look forward to every new release and purchase the newest movie out that week. With the introduction of Netflix, he did not have to purchase every movie but if he liked it he would add it to his collection to share his joy with all who sat on his couch and joined him in his love of movies!

Robert had many skills and talents. When Robert was an adolescent , his father taught him about engines and to work on cars. He would talk about the Saturday mornings he spent with his father in the garage changing oil, tuning engines or repairing the lawn mower. Robert learned fast and used his knowledge and skill in high school to earn extra money by working on friend’s cars. Robert learned about construction as well. He and his father built an addition onto his family home on Wilson Road. Robert’s own garage looked like a Home Depot in later years. He could plumb, build, run electrical wires or solve any home repair issue. He could do it all !!!

Robert also loved FOOD!! He loved his mother’s cooking the best but his mother-in-law’s came in a close second. He was truly a lucky man because his mother cooked the best Mexican food in the world from her homemade tortillas to her amazing tamales. All made with a great love and care. His mother-in-law was also a fantastic cook and made better pies than Marie Callander. He once blamed her for causing him to gain 20 lbs. Recently, Robert began to find his own joy in the kitchen. He would bake cakes for his mom, he would make Sheppard’s pie but his newest love was making tamales. He had learned from the best and was becoming an expert. His greatest joy was making them for his children and grandchildren.

Above soccer and his career, ROBERT LOVED HIS FAMILY AND GOD. He loved his parents, his tias and tios, his cousins, his siblings, his nieces and nephews and their families. He loved Barbara’s family as well, her grandparents, her parents, his brother-in-law and his children. He would tell about when he was young and his parents would take him and his sisters on the weekend to visit family in Southern California. They would also take family vacations every summer to Mexico to visit family. His sister Amelia said they would sit in the back seat, filled with ice chests and snacks and her and Bobby would bicker the entire way. She would complain “Mom! Bobby’s touching me !!!”, all the way to Mexico and all the way back home. They both agreed it was the best time of their childhoods. His brother Rudy shared a bedroom with Bobby for a short time. Bobby always gave Rudy credit for his love of Motown music. Robert loved Amelia’s son Phillip in a special way.“Tia Molli” and Phillip were a large part of the kids lives during their younger years. Tia Molli and Phillip would come for Christmas and Tia would put on a Christmas skit with all the kids. One year John was baby Jesus. Tio Bobby was extremely proud of Phillip and all his accomplishments and becoming a dedicated husband and father.

ROBERT LOVED HIS MOTHER. Robert was the apple of Sara’s eye and she “spoiled” him from the time he was born with no apologies !! She has always been PROUD of him and would tell anyone and everyone how special he was at least twice in the same conversation. Sara and Bobby grew closer and closer in the past 8 years. Bobby took care of Sara’s every want and need. They went to Mass on Sunday, then out to breakfast at Don PePe’s restaurant and then to Costco. They would FaceTime with the grand babies and wait for the next visit. They shared a of love of people, family and the love of their faith in God. Sara has never met a stranger and neither had Bobby. Bobby would sit at the kitchen table when he was younger and ask “Mom what time is it?”, when the clock was right there on the wall. Bobby spoiled Sara too. He always made sure she had her coffee creamer and her sweet bread. He loved and adored his mother with a pure heart.

Robert loved his Mexican heritage. He learned to speak Spanish fluently at home but also mastered reading and writing it fluently as well. He loved the music his father would play in the afternoon as he and his sister and he played in the living room. He loved speaking Spanish with his cousins, they would laugh and tease when ever they were together about the good old days when they were young walking to the corner market for candy and sweets and the mischief they would get into along the way.

Robert loved his children with a fierceness. From the time he laid eyes on each of them, they became his purpose. He cared for them with a tenderness that was unexpected from a big, strong man like he was but also expected of them with the wisdom and strength of a giant. He went to work each day with the absolute purpose to provide, care for and elevate his family. So many memories of each of his children and the pride and the love he had for each them. He believed in them, he worried about them, he pushed them, he would stand up for them if he ever thought someone had wronged them. Andrea, Anna and John were his everything. Andrea attended college and played soccer, she obtained her insurance license and then became a registered dental assistant. Andrea then married the love of her life Timothy J. Montoya and became a stay at home mom. Robert was very proud of his son-in-law as well. Tim is a California Highway Patrolman and among many other awards he received the Medal of Valor. Anna loved soccer when she was young and still does. She started working for AT&T about 6 years ago and in 2016 she moved to Denver, CO with the company. Anna worked diligently and was recently promoted to Assistant Manager. Robert was so proud. He and Anna would call each other if the Women’s National soccer team was playing to critique and talk about the game. John worked for AT&T but wanted to move back to Southern California and took a job with an engineering company in Corona. John will always be “My Son” to Robert. He loved John with a love only a father has for his son. Andrea, Anna and John were so very blessed to have had a father that loved, protected and adored them with the intensity and devotion that Robert displayed.

Robert loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Robert was raised in the Catholic Church and was confirmed and married at St. Francis church in Bakersfield. Robert held a strong conviction of his faith throughout his life. In the past 7 years, he started attending St. Philip’s Church with his mom and rededicated his life to serving the Lord. Robert became an usher and spent time attending classes on weekends. He carried a prayer book and would emailed a prayer to each one of his children and Tim on a daily basis. He always encouraged them to turn to God for strength, guidance and compassion. Robert’s favorite prayer was the Serenity Prayer. He would read it to Andrea, Anna and John when ever they would call him with a burden or a difficult decision.

ROBERT LOVED HIS GRANDCHILDREN !!! Sophia Elisabeth, Tyler James and Reagan Jeanne Montoya were the light of his life. They affectionally called him “Papa”. After Robert passed, the kids were asked what they would miss the most about Papa and they all three said “his HUGGIES and his KISSIES”! (Tyler said his KISSIES tickled!) Robert was there for their births, he drove down for birthdays, holidays, soccer games, baseball games and to babysit when mom and dad went to Las Vegas for the CHP softball tournament. Sara affectionally known to Sophia, Tyler and Reagan as “Gigi” gave Papa a run for his money when it came to who loved them the most. When Andrea lived in Bakersfield for a few years, Robert would help by picking Sophia and Tyler up from pre-school. He and Gigi would feed them dinner, give them bathes so when Andrea would get off work they would be ready for bed. The kids loved visiting Papa and GiGi. Sophia’s favorite thing to do was play house with Gigi in Gigi’s closet. Gigi would have to have help getting up from the floor, where Sophia would tell her to sit, but Gigi would not have had it any other way. Papa and Gigi always had goodies and snacks because they would go to Costco every Sunday after Mass. They would stack up on Gummie Bears, Graham cracker bears, cuties, soda, and candy. The kids loved Papa’s huge selection of movies. Papa was kind of lenient and let them watch “Jurassic Park” and “The Force Awakens”. “Oh grandpa; you were one of a kind !!!”

Robert and Barbara were married and had three beautiful and amazing children. She has known him for 40 years. She was married to him, co-parented with him and shared their deep, deep love for their grandchildren. She has expressed that he was a truly good man, father, husband, grandfather, son, brother, father-in-law, Tio, co-worker and coach. He lived with a conviction of right and wrong, of goodness and kindness, and responsibility and commitment. He loved the Lord and people mattered.

Robert cared about first impressions and if anyone knew Robert, Bob, Bobby well, they knew he wanted to ALWAYS look sharp. He loved to dress nice and he had more clothes than Nordstroms. He loved to wear Wranglers and cowboy shirts, silver belt buckles and boots, but he also loved to wear beautiful suits, ties that made a statement and Johnson Murphy dress shoes. Robert loved cologne! He loved to smell GOOD and he always, always did. Robert is and will always be in our hearts. Someone said once, it always hurts more when the person you lose is “SPECIAL!” ... Robert, Bob, Bobby, Dad, Papa, Tio was definitely that and so much more.

We will miss you with an ache in our hearts AND will strive to reach the heights you dreamed for each of us! Dad you will be in our hearts and memories FOREVER and remember your just a cloud away! Until we meet again in eternity DAD ...

WE LOVE YOU,

Andee, Annie and John Boy

Robert is survived by his mother Sara Serrano, sister Amelia Padilla, Sister Yolanda Delgado (Greg), Daughter Andrea Montoya (Timothy), Daughter Anna Serrano, Son John Serrano (Lindsey), Niece Christina Hernandez (Miguel), Niece Monica DeLeon (James), Nephew Gregory Delgado (Jessica), Niece Michelle Tomayo (Mark), Nephew Phillip Padilla (April) and his Grandchildren: Sophia Elisabeth Montoya, Tyler James Montoya and Reagan Jeanne Montoya.