Bob was my best friend growing up in Bonita. You may remember his outstanding play in varsity baseball, his pleasant personality, and his great looks. He was also very bright, and graduated from UCSD around 1968. Eventually Bob became an English instructor at Patrick Henry High. Sadly, he died from lymphoma in 2001.
I was scheduled to attend the annual CA Association for the Gifted Conference in 2000, I think, and was pleased when I got the schedule of workshops to see that one was being presented by Bob Litchfield for English teachers. The man who actually presented it apologized to the group for being a substitute; he told us Bob Litchfield was ill and unable to attend the conference after all. I had no idea how ill he was and hadn't seen him since high school. I'm sad I missed him.
I have copied Paula's comments in here, because it seems possible that someone might look here and not slog though the forum comments section.
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Thanks to Rosie for allowing me (Paula Burkey Litchfield) to slip in to your blog. Congrats on a fabulous reunion--I loved both events--- and will steal all your fine ideas for our class of '65 reunion next year.
It was important to me to attend, not only to spy for our class of '65 committee, but to send you some info. about Bob (Litchfield) in this blog forum, since he was on your list of unknown dates of death.
Bob died in 2001 at City of Hope (a comprehensive cancer center in Duarte, by Pasadena) after two bone marrow transplants to cure him of nonhodgkins lymphona. He fought the good fight for two and a half years the way many of you told me he played first base: he gave it all he had!
Yes, it was indeed a brutal turn of events after 30 exciting, most happy years of marriage. But, this horror truly had many silver linings. Bob lived every nanosecond of life fully and was constantly full of passions, vitality, ideas, and plans for a lifetime. We have 2 beautiful daughters (Kate & Rosalind--Bob loved and taught Shakespeare) and now have 5 gg children.
Bob's life work was teaching (high school, community college, college) and I must brag that he was just the best. Many former students are still in touch with me and often pay tribute to him for shaping their lives.
Also noteworthy is that Bob worked summers for the National Park Service in Glacier National Park, Montana, on their "bear management team". (He use to quip that he thought they said "beer management" when they invited him to sign up! ) We loved those years.
After transitioning from the park service, Bob started taking high school students to Europe to see the best art museums in the world and also to hike the Alps.
Bob's life was incomparably rich, albeit cruelly cut short in his prime. He lives on in his students, his own children, the hundred some trees he planted here in our Lakeside yard and his contagious passions and enthusiasm. Carpe diem, friends. Paula (Burkey) Litchfield
Frederick (Fred) Longworth, Jr.
Bob was my best friend growing up in Bonita. You may remember his outstanding play in varsity baseball, his pleasant personality, and his great looks. He was also very bright, and graduated from UCSD around 1968. Eventually Bob became an English instructor at Patrick Henry High. Sadly, he died from lymphoma in 2001.
Gail Eileen Dillon (Boone)
I was scheduled to attend the annual CA Association for the Gifted Conference in 2000, I think, and was pleased when I got the schedule of workshops to see that one was being presented by Bob Litchfield for English teachers. The man who actually presented it apologized to the group for being a substitute; he told us Bob Litchfield was ill and unable to attend the conference after all. I had no idea how ill he was and hadn't seen him since high school. I'm sad I missed him.
Bruce Wilson
I have copied Paula's comments in here, because it seems possible that someone might look here and not slog though the forum comments section.
-------------------
Thanks to Rosie for allowing me (Paula Burkey Litchfield) to slip in to your blog. Congrats on a fabulous reunion--I loved both events--- and will steal all your fine ideas for our class of '65 reunion next year.
It was important to me to attend, not only to spy for our class of '65 committee, but to send you some info. about Bob (Litchfield) in this blog forum, since he was on your list of unknown dates of death.
Bob died in 2001 at City of Hope (a comprehensive cancer center in Duarte, by Pasadena) after two bone marrow transplants to cure him of nonhodgkins lymphona. He fought the good fight for two and a half years the way many of you told me he played first base: he gave it all he had!
Yes, it was indeed a brutal turn of events after 30 exciting, most happy years of marriage. But, this horror truly had many silver linings. Bob lived every nanosecond of life fully and was constantly full of passions, vitality, ideas, and plans for a lifetime. We have 2 beautiful daughters (Kate & Rosalind--Bob loved and taught Shakespeare) and now have 5 gg children.
Bob's life work was teaching (high school, community college, college) and I must brag that he was just the best. Many former students are still in touch with me and often pay tribute to him for shaping their lives.
Also noteworthy is that Bob worked summers for the National Park Service in Glacier National Park, Montana, on their "bear management team". (He use to quip that he thought they said "beer management" when they invited him to sign up! ) We loved those years.
After transitioning from the park service, Bob started taking high school students to Europe to see the best art museums in the world and also to hike the Alps.
Bob's life was incomparably rich, albeit cruelly cut short in his prime. He lives on in his students, his own children, the hundred some trees he planted here in our Lakeside yard and his contagious passions and enthusiasm. Carpe diem, friends. Paula (Burkey) Litchfield