Robert Earl Thomas, Jr.

Mar. 19,1959 - Mar. 1, 2018 Resident of Santa Clara

San Jose native and lifelong Santa Clara Valley resident Robert Earl Thomas, Jr., age 58, passed away unexpectedly on March 1, 2018. Born March 19, 1959 to Robert Earl Thomas, Sr. and Florence Cowen Thomas, he grew up and attended schools in San Jose’s Cambrian Park neighborhood, graduating from Leigh High School in 1977. While attending West Valley College, a summer job was the start of an outstanding engineering career. He worked with great dedication for ELXSI and MIPS, and served as a Principal Manufacturing Process Test Engineer for Silicon Graphics and Juniper Networks.

Robert’s interests were wide ranging. He enjoyed learning all he could about new things that caught his attention, and as an avid reader, learner, and listener he soaked up knowledge about everything around him. He was passionate about science, mathematics, technology, music, art, history, and politics. He traveled widely throughout his life and valued all his experiences; he had hoped to return to Rome for an extended stay.

Robert loved his family, his home, and Santa Clara Valley. Robert moved to Santa Clara at the age of 22 and resided there until his death. He enjoyed serving almost continuously on his condo’s homeowners’ association board of directors.

Robert is predeceased by his parents and survived by his sisters Susan Thomas of San Jose and Sandy Thomas of Cape Coral, Florida, his brother, Douglas Thomas (Barbara), of Pacific Grove, and his beloved nephews, Samuel Sandy (Jane), Matthew Sandy, and James Thomas. Robert was a compassionate, generous, and ever enthusiastic person who was much loved and admired by his family and friends. The painful loss of his presence and spirited intellect is beyond measure to his family, and to his many friends in the engineering community of “Silicon Valley.” Robert will rest near his parents at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose.

A memorial service will be held at Oak Hill Memorial Park on Monday, March 26, at 3:30 PM in the Chapel of Roses. A Celebration of Robert’s Life is also planned to be held for friends and family in the near future. Please email robertthomasmemorial@gmail.com for more information.