Robert Alan Ashley

In Loving Memory

Robert Alan Ashley

Robert “Rob” Ashley, a devoted husband, father and friend passed away peacefully on March 21st, 2025, surrounded by family. Rob made friends wherever he went, bringing warmth and consideration to all he came across. He had an empathic nature and a generous spirit which touched and sometimes inspired others. He lived his life to the fullest until his final days, whether that meant supporting his community of Encinitas, California, gathering with family, tending to his cherished rose garden, creating bonsai, listening to live music or watching (and occasionally racing in) auto races.

Born on October 14th, 1957, in Nantwich, United Kingdom, he was raised in the bucolic town of Barnton, Cheshire, England. Rob was the only child of Ursula (Sula or Sue) and Alan Ashley. He attended John Deane’s Primary school where he achieved A level grades one year early and was the first student from the community to be accepted to Oxford University. He graduated with a Masters in biochemistry from St Peter’s College, University of Oxford in 1979.

For over 45 years Rob led companies in the professional fields of regenerative medicine, cell therapy, combination products, specialty pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radiopharmaceuticals. He first joined Amersham International plc in 1979, and lived outside of London. While there, he took up field hockey where he met some of his lifelong friends. In 1989 he joined Squibb Corporation who relocated him to Pennsylvania, United States to lead new Squibb programs. In 1994, Rob joined the venture-backed start-up CollaGenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. as its second employee, helping the company grow to 160 employees, with sales in excess of $50 million and taking it public on the NASDAQ. In 2004 Rob relocated to Tucson, Arizona to be CEO of AmpliMed Corporation - another startup focused on pancreatic cancer. Vital Therapies (VTI) brought Rob to San Diego in 2008 as Chief Scientific Officer, Ex. VP for Regulatory where he helped develop ELAD, the first human cell-based artificial liver. VTI was the second company he helped take public on the NASDAQ. Most recently, since 2022 he has served as the VP RA/QA & Clinical Strategy for Provision Medical in San Diego.

Rob met his wife and life-partner, Joy Lyndes, in Tucson. They celebrated every day of life they had together with immense love and kindness. They moved to Encinitas, California in 2012 where Joy practices landscape architecture and serves as the City’s Deputy Mayor. They shared a love for family, friends, gardens, adventure, motor sports, history, hiking and golf.

Rob was embraced by his friends and colleagues from all around the world and in his community. He was recently elected as Chairman of the Encinitas Historic Society, and he loved volunteering and building great friendships. He served as a scientific advisor and investor for the San Diego based angel investment NuFund Venture Group and was an avid supporter of start-ups. He was a talented and passionate race car driver who raced in England, throughout the US southwest and once in 2013 in Montreal Canada in the Formula Ford support race at Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Never afraid of a little friendly competition, Rob was an enthusiastic fantasy football player. Even after relocating to San Diego from Tucson, he would yearly host the fantasy football draft for the AZ/CALI league—comprised of friends in Arizona as well as his family and friends in San Diego. He won the championship in 2016 and 2019; something he was very proud of. He also went undefeated and won the championship in 2022 in his son’s league.

In his final year, Rob and Joy were able to spend more time together with family (regularly hosting barbeques), traveling, going to auto races, and visiting botanical gardens. Whilst the cancer was aggressive and curtailed the length of his life, it did not stop him from living life to the fullest and spending his final days with the people he loved most, including his cherished grandchildren in the community park.

Mourning his loss are his loving wife Joy Lyndes, his 3 children and their partners - Oliver Ashley and Chelsea Pence, Mary and Nick Cherry, Louise Ashley and Dalton Remfry, his 2 step children and their partners - Alexandra and Brett Milkovich and Taylor and Monica Garrot, his grandchildren - Hudson Garrot, Trilby Cherry, Siena Milkovich and Robert (Fitz) Cherry, and all his life-long and new friends around the world and especially in England, Pennsylvania, Arizona, San Diego and Encinitas.

A Celebration of Life is planned for April 26th, 2025. For more details, please contact [email protected].

Memorial donations may be made in Rob’s name to the Encinitas Historical Society. Contact them by emailing [email protected]