Robert Edward Flores

On May 6, 2011, Robert Edward Flores of Diamond Bar, CA, passed away peacefully at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina, CA. Robert literally gave everything he had to give in his 6-year battle with colon cancer, remaining optimistic and determined throughout. Bob-O was diagnosed with colon cancer in August of 2005 and never once wavered in his resolve to beat this terrible disease and continue serving as the rock upon which our family was built.

Robert was born to Robert and Elodia Flores in Los Angeles, CA on December 8, 1950. His early childhood was spent in East Los Angeles. Along with his sisters Vivian, Patricia and Kathryn, the family also spent time living in Pico Rivera before settling on Hacienda Heights as the place to make their home; the same home that was the setting for many family gatherings and countless memories. This house was so filled with love that Santa Claus himself would show up to celebrate Christmas Eve. As a child, he enjoyed playing baseball and bonding with his mother over music. He was also a great swimmer, which enabled him to flawlessly execute multiple sibling rescues at sea. Robert also enjoyed body surfing, even taking on the famed “Wedge” in Newport Beach, where you might have seen him with his cousin Frankie or friends Ted Reynolds and Tommy Johnston. Robert and his family enjoyed vacationing at Rosarito Beach, Mexico, or taking trips north to San Francisco, but the common thread in all of their endeavors was being together.

Robert was very intellectual according to his sisters, and naturally, was an excellent student and an activist for his fellow students, successfully negotiating classroom upgrades and co-ed assemblies. He attended Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, where he not only picked up his diploma in 1969, but also landed the prettiest girl in school, Gayle Rathke. Robert was also a proud graduate of the University of Southern California, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Business in June of 1973, where again, he overachieved and worked a marriage and multiple childbirths into his curriculum. Of that curriculum, USC Trojan Football was his favorite subject and his favorite professor was the legendary USC football coach, John McKay. Robert also received his Master of Business Administration degree from Whittier College in May of 1986.

Robert and Gayle were married at St. John Vianney church in Hacienda Heights on January 30, 1971, and did not waste any time in setting about the business of starting a family. Clearly they had no idea what they were getting themselves in to. He immediately put his education and intellectual prowess to work, joining his father in the family business, Kemmerer Engineering in Whittier, as a Controller. Not that he had much choice, with 6 hungry and home-clothed children to feed, shelter and educate. After working side by side with his father at Kemmerer for 24 years, Robert went on to hold jobs as a tax preparation specialist, concessions expert at the Big-A, and part time work for Hassan Development in West Covina. Eventually, Robert began substitute teaching, since 3 jobs were simply not enough, which led to a career in education that lasted for 18 years and provided him a great deal of personal satisfaction and fulfillment. During his career as a teacher he touched the lives of countless youths who were desperate for a positive role model, a role that Bob-O was made to fill. Robert retired from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools in November of 2010.

On the subject of raising six boys, Scott, Michael, John, Steven, David and Matt, Robert was incredibly involved in his children’s lives. Along with his wife Gayle, they volunteered at numerous school events at St. Josephs in La Puente, such as the annual Fiesta, not to mention nearly providing the entire workforce for the school’s student fund raising programs. Robert moved his family to a Mansionesque home in Diamond Bar in 1978, another infamous venue in Flores family lore…and yes, Santa came there to party on Christmas Eve too. Robert also discovered that his love of baseball and his penchant for being perpetually surrounded by children laid the foundation for a very successful youth baseball coaching career that spanned multiple cities and decades. Most notably, Robert spent 11 years as Manager of the Diamond Bar Little League Orioles in the Major Division. One highlight of his coaching career was a 19-0 undefeated season, a team that was led by his then 12-year-old son David. David had an incredible season that year, including wild pitching performances and multiple homeruns that not only cleared the fence, but left the complex…thankfully Robert’s assistant coach, also named Robert, was conveniently there to shag the balls after being thrown out of the game. Clearly this experience laid the foundation for his very successful career as a teacher, but more importantly, it yielded pearls of wisdom, such as “Never listen to the crazy Mom in the stands”, and, “We’re not out here to have fun…we’re out here to win…winning is fun!” The Flores family enjoyed spending time together regardless of the arena, but none more than the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the family enjoyed each other’s company and claimed our corner of the Coliseum as we cheered on the Trojans.

Robert has touched numerous lives in his 60 years. He is well known for his friendly and outgoing personality, his relentless optimism, his welcoming ways (there were always enough seats at Bob-O’s table for everyone) and his ability to see the good in people, which is probably easy for someone that is so intimately familiar with what constitutes good. As a father, he has provided his sons the blueprint for what it means to be a father, a provider, a husband and a man, and they in turn rewarded him with 15 beautiful grandchildren.

Robert is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Gayle; his sons: Scott, Mike, John, Steven and Matt; his daughters in law Joanna, Mo, Sheri, Brea and Valarie; his fifteen grandchildren Chris, Tyler, Dillon, Ashlee, Kenny, Jessica, Evan, Kimberly, Elyse, Amanda, Celeste, Sarah, Ethan, Elly, and Ava; his sisters Vivian, Pat, and Kath, and their spouses, Tom Hartsock, Tom Halliwell and Lynn; his nieces Amber, Shannon, Annie and Ashley; his nephews Dustin and Bobby*; and countless other extended family members and friends who all share in his brilliant legacy.

Bob-O will be laid to rest at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights, CA on May 13, 2011, near his parents, Robert and Elodia and his son David.

We love you Robert / Bob-O / Eddie / Ed / Grandpa / Dad, and we miss you already, though we all understand that you are free from any pain and suffering and can move on to bigger and better things in Heaven. Say hello to everyone for us, and Fight On!

Love,

Your Family!

* = favorite nephew

Written by Steven Flores