Robert Roscoe Black Jr.

Robert “Bob” Roscoe Black of Newport Beach, California, passed away at the age of 83 on January 29, 2023. Bob was born on July 5, 1939 in Oneonta, Alabama to Zora and Roscoe Black. Bob had three late sisters, Frances, Karen and Linda. As a young boy “Bobby” (as they affectionately called him) and his family briefly relocated to Birmingham, before moving onto a 160-acre farm in Jemison, Alabama. Bobby enjoyed looking after the animals on their farm, and in particular their horses (a colt named Brownie, a filly named Lady and their foal Flicka). In addition, Bobby’s big heart went out to an adorable runt pig (named Petunia) that he lovingly fed with a bottle of milk in order to try and nurse it back to health. Bobby and his sisters enjoyed walking along the many creeks, and tall trees on their farm. Later, the state of Alabama claimed imminent domain on roughly half of their farmland, and built a highway through that portion of the property. Bob graduated from Jemison High School, and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from the University of Alabama. This marked the beginning of Bob’s devotion as a life-long Crimson Tide Football fan (Roll Tide!)

After his graduation, Bob moved west to Los Angeles, California where he embarked upon a successful career in the aerospace industry. For seven years, Bob was a senior design engineer/project manager for the Hughes Aircraft Company, and prior to that he worked on the Apollo program for North American Rockwell as a design engineer. During that time, Bob earned his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). In 1973, Bob helped to start up Plastic Research Corporation (PRC) in Santa Fe Springs. PRC subsequently relocated its operations to its current location in Ontario, where it will be celebrating it’s 50-year anniversary in 2023. Bob began with PRC as the Engineering Manager, then as the Vice President/Operations Manager, and became President/Chief Operating Officer in 1992. To most of us, the following terms are foreign, however Bob understood them perfectly well, and they were an essential part of his “engineering” language. His background included design, production, integration, qualification and testing of general-purpose shipping containers, mobile shelters and electronic enclosures. He was knowledgeable in the characteristics of high-performance resins and reinforcements, as well as in the related molding processes. This area of expertise included polyester, epoxy, vinyl and urethane resins; fiberglass, metal and Kevlar reinforcements; along with resin transfer and in die pressure molding systems. Bob holds patents for composite panel and joint design, as well as for a variable stiffness suspension system. PRC developed over fifty different missile container systems under his technical direction and leadership. Bob retired in 2018, celebrating with family, friends and associates on Newport Bay.

Bob met Moira Therese McDermott at her parent’s lake house on Lake Malibu and it was love at first sight. They dated and were married on June 13, 1964 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Camarillo. Together, they had two daughters Therese Arcadia and Marianna Taylor, along with, a son Robert Emmett. Bob and Moira purchased a home in Newport Beach in 1972, where they lived happily together for 37 years and raised their family. As a couple, they modeled strong work ethic, had an abundance of love for family and had many gatherings at their beloved home together. After being happily married for 45 years, Moira passed away in 2009.

In Moira’s honor, Bob decided to become a Catholic at St. Joachim Catholic Church. While volunteering at St Joachim’s Fall Festival in 2012 he met his second wife, Cynthia Goff. He was selling tickets for carnival rides and when Cindy purchased some tickets for her granddaughter, he asked for her phone number. A few days later he arrived at Cindy’s for their first date in his beloved red convertible MG. They were a couple from that day on. They were married at the Laguna Hills courthouse on December 30, 2014 surrounded by both of their families.

Bob loved reading Scientific American magazine for fun as he was quite the intellectual. He also enjoyed reading novels of various sorts, and keeping up with current events. Bob loved to pass along emails on these current events and funny anecdotes. Bob loved the outdoors and enjoyed playing tennis, hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, walking, cooking, playing the guitar, listening to music, and especially Alabama Crimson Tide football. Above all, Bob loved being with his family and friends who all knew his contagious and hysterical “Bob Black laugh.” Bob had a strong faith in God and was a true American Patriot. He would display the American flag each morning in his front yard and bring it back into his home each evening.

Bob is survived by his wife, Cindy, his three paternal children: Therese, Marianna and Robert, and his eight paternal grandchildren: Amanda, Ashley, Cody, Carly, Dillon, Rebecca, Sienna, and Jaden. In addition, his stepson Louie, and his step-granddaughters Tabitha and Trinity, and step-great-grandson, Whitaker.

Services will be held at Saint Joachim Catholic Church in Costa Mesa on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.harborlawn.com for the Black family.