Robert M. Cronholm

October 2, 1929 – June 10, 2021

Robert “Bob” Cronholm, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at home at 91 years of age. His devotion to his family inspired their adoration of him. Bob leaves behind his loving wife, Suzy, his two children, Robby (Kaitlyn) Cronholm and Cary Cronholm Rose, and his two grandchildren Cassidy and Ellsworth, who will always remember him lovingly as Trebor – Robert spelled backwards and a childhood nickname. Born to Frances Foster Cronholm and Frederick Norman Cronholm in Inglewood, California in 1929, at the beginning of the Great Depression, he spent his childhood in Redlands, California and Salt Lake City with his twin brothers, James and John. Bob’s mother hailed from the Foster and Van de Graaff families in Alabama and his father emigrated from Sweden as a small child. Bob graduated from Redlands High School in 1947 and the University of Utah in 1951. He then served as Lieutenant JG in the Navy during the Korean War from 1951-1954. After his service he moved to San Francisco and began a career on Montgomery Street as a stock broker. Twenty years later he transitioned to real estate, happily working for Hill and Company for 30 years.

In 1967 he met his wife, Suzy and they wed in 1972, treasuring their marriage for 49 years. Bob was always active in his children’s school activities and field trips, despite being trapped in caves and stung by bees. With a special affinity for and bond with all animals, Bob raised a complete menagerie of pets for the children and was a well-known sight in Sea Cliff both morning and evening, dressed in coat and tie, walking a succession of black standard poodles. Having grown up spending summers working on ranches, Bob loved the family’s outdoor life of sailing San Francisco Bay, skiing in Longbarn and Tahoe, and horseback riding and fly fishing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

A twelve-year survivor of pancreatic cancer and numerous other health challenges, Bob continued to live a vibrant and active life. His children always felt that his stoicism and fortitude were perhaps inherited from his Swedish ancestor, Viking Cronholm. Over the years Bob was always immensely grateful for the dedicated care of all his doctors: Dr. Charles K. Morris, Dr. Margaret Tempero, Dr. Lindy Fox and many others.

No one will ever forget Bob’s witty and sparkling sense of humor or his readiness with a pun. He was a kind and gentle man, blessed with a life of extraordinary friendships and good times. Bob instilled in his children and all who knew him a love of life, the joy of laughter, and the inner strength to stay positive through all of life’s challenges.

The family asks that gifts in memory of Bob be made to UCSF Foundation, In Memory of Robert Cronholm to Support Dermatology Research, PO Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339.