Robert McLean Desimone

November 10, 1921 ~ June 4, 2018

Resident of Orinda Robert (“Bob”) McLean Desimone passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home of 42 years in Orinda on June 4. He is survived by his son, Steven Desimone (Linda), daughters, Barbara Glenn (Jerry) and Carolyn Mitchell (Jim), and grandchildren, Katherine Mitchell, Kimberly Desimone, Sara Glenn, Robert Desimone (Crystal) and Grant Mitchell. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Helen, brothers, Ray, Frances, James and Wilbur, and sisters, Anna Margaret and Marian.

Bob was born in Oakland to Raphael Desimone, a native of Italy, and Anna (McLean) Desimone, a native of California. He spent a happy childhood with his brothers and friends on the playgrounds, sports fields and other environs of Oakland/Berkeley. He attended St. Mary’s High School in Berkeley before transferring to Oakland Technical High School where he graduated in 1939. In 1942 he joined the Navy where he served for 5 years as a ship electrician on the USS Cummings, a destroyer deployed out of Pearl Harbor. He saw combat action at Iwo Jima and the Philippine Sea. Bob excelled at his duties, qualifying for advanced electronics training at the University of Minnesota (finishing first in his class and being invited to serve as an instructor), the University of Virginia and the Navy’s top electronics school in Washington, D.C. Returning to civilian life in Oakland, Bob soon met and married Helen Simon, and they settled in San Lorenzo to raise their family. After 25 years as original San Lorenzo Village homeowners, they moved to Orinda in 1976 upon the college graduation of their youngest child. A point of emphasis and pride for Bob and Helen was that all of their children and grandchildren have earned university degrees.

Bob was a talented athlete, and, though circumstances prevented his participation in sports at Oakland Tech, he competed at the highest level of industrial league basketball and fast-pitch softball in Alameda County until his early 30’s. Bob also worked for 30 years at the International Harvester/Navistar factories in Emeryville and San Leandro. He then worked an additional 15 years at the Associated Allied Aerospace facility in San Leandro before retiring. When not at work, Bob was a passionate sports fan, a master gardener, an enthusiastic card player and a skilled general handyman making him much in demand by family, friends and neighbors. He also took up golf late in life and counted as a highlight his capturing of the UC Berkeley Golf Club’s prestigious Eddie Reed Match Play Tournament trophy at the age of 52.

Bob was a strong, silent, rugged-individual type, with a keen sense of humor, who put love for his family and country above all other endeavors. To celebrate his truly “greatest generation” life, a memorial service will be held in the Inspiration Chapel at the Oakmont Memorial Park and Mortuary 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, on Friday, June 15, at 9:30 a.m. For more information and directions, please visit www.oakmontmortuary.com.

A private burial service for immediate family members will be held following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers the family requests a charitable donation be made to the American Heart Association or the Disabled American Veterans.