Robert Prough

September 4, 1950 - December 23, 2022

Robert Willits Prough was born in Riverside, California on September 4, 1950, and passed away in Newport Beach on December 23rd with his loving family by his side. A fourth generation Californian, Rob spent his early years playing in the orange groves of Ontario and Corona. Following the divorce of his parents, his mother moved the family to the lovely old beach house (built by his grandfather in 1936) on Bayside Drive in Corona del Mar, where Rob spent many happy years fishing, sailing, and surfing.

After high school, Rob attended Brigham Young University and Chapman College World Campus Afloat. An entrepreneur at heart, college held little attraction for him. Instead, he went to work for the Corona Foothill Lemon Company, which was founded by his grandfather, Robert Lee Willits. During this time, he lived in the ranch house with his dear uncle, Ned Willits. It was Uncle Ned who mentored him in business, the game of chess, and the appreciation of fine wines. Rob decided to pursue work in the wine industry and joined Stuart Imports of San Francisco as a sales rep. His love of wine became his career when he founded Central Coast Wine Company in Santa Cruz in 1979, which he sold ten years later. Rob couldn’t stay away from the business for long and in 1993 Epic Wines was born. For twenty years it was his dream come true; a successful business with talented, knowledgeable people who loved wine. He traveled the world and formed lifelong friendships with many of those he met along the way. In 2013 Rob sold Epic Wines.

Aside from his family, Rob loved his boat “Cruz” and anything Hawaiian. He also loved playing golf, cheering on the Giants, the 49ers, and the Warriors (both Big and G-League), and following Formula One. In his younger years he was an avid skier, and the family created many favorite memories at the house in Truckee.

Rob was predeceased by his parents, Nancy (Willits) and Bob Sattler, and his nephew Charlie Long. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Jane, and his adoring children Justin Prough (Yael), Leanne Butka (Todd), Elizabeth Fisher (Mike) and Ryan Burr (Lindsey Barigian), his siblings Steve Prough (Kathy) and Sara Hyatt. He also leaves Carol Prough; she is his little sister and the donor of the stem cells in 2015 that prolonged his life. She is our hero; we will forever be grateful for the years we had with him, that we would not have had without her generosity. He is also survived by his grandchildren Griffin and Jordan Prough, Eva and Makena Fisher, Zoe and Raegan Butka, and Jack Burr, they were the light of his life.

Words cannot adequately convey our thanks to the team at the Stanford Cancer Center who navigated his care. He presented challenge after challenge and they kept him going, miraculously, for over seventeen years. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Stanford University, The Research Fund for Dr. Sally Arai, Development Services, PO Box 20466, Stanford, CA 94309 or 650-725-4360.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 11:00 am at Calvary Episcopal Church, 532 Center Street, Santa Cruz, California. A reception will follow 12:00 – 3:00 at Seascape Golf Club 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos.