Robert Norman Bee
March 4, 1925 - August 7, 2017
Robert Norman Bee, 92, died peacefully in San Francisco on Monday, August 7th with his family at his side.
Bob and his twin sister, Janet, were born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1943, Bob enlisted in the war as an Army infantryman. Bob survived the Battle of the Bulge, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star.
Bob graduated from Marquette University with honors in 1949, and earned his Masters from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, with honors, in 1955. Following Georgetown, Bob joined the Foreign Service of the US Treasury. Bob met the love of his life, Dolores Cappelletti, on board the Ile de France on his first overseas assignment to Sweden. They were married on April 23, 1955 in New York City.
Bob was the financial attaché in Ankara, Turkey, Bonn, Germany, and became Acting Director of the US A.I.D. mission in Karachi, Pakistan. In 1967, Bob returned to Milwaukee, where he worked for the First Wisconsin National Bank, and was Chairman of the World Affairs Council.
The Bees moved to San Francisco in 1971, where Bob was Senior Vice President in charge of Wells Fargo’s International Division. In 1978, Bob became the Chairman of London Interstate Bank. Bob’s extracurricular activities in London included being Chairman of the Adam Smith Institute, advisors to members of Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet. He was also President of the American Society in London. Bob was awarded the John Carroll Award by the Georgetown University Alumni Association in 1993 for his distinguished career. Bob and Dolores retired to San Francisco in 1994.
A devoted grandfather, he sought to spend time with his five grandchildren, and was engaged, curious, and playful in his interactions with them. A lifelong athlete, Bob jogged before it was popular, and swam and played tennis well into his 80s.
“I am the luckiest man in the world.” Bob was profoundly grateful for all life’s blessings. With his great sense of humor, fearless (and creative) use of language, no joke was too corny to share whether in English, French, German, or Italian.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Dolores, his three children, Diane Gooding (Vaughn), John Bee, and Leslie Bee (Richard Beckman), and five grandchildren: William (Brooke), Robert, and Andrew Rennie, and Milena and Kayla Beckman. Bob Bee died one day before he could meet his great-grandson, Hayden Rennie.
The Bee family thanks Chito Aguas and Michelle Lacson for their extraordinary care of Bob in the last years of his life. The family has planned a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the California Pacific Medical Center.
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