Roll Call Tribute

Posted: 03/09/2010 01:00:00 AM MST, Boulder (CO) Daily Camera William A. Robba December 28, 1923 - March 4, 2010 Posted: 03/09/2010 01:00:00 AM MST William A. Robba, died peacefully at home with his family in Boulder, Colorado on March 4, having bravely battled pancreatic cancer for over a year and a half. He was 86. Born in Queens, NY, Mr. Robba served in the army during WWII in Norway. During this time he met and married his first wife, Nancy DeHarte, with whom he fathered six children. He received his Bachelor's degree with honors from Fordham University in NY and then his Master's degree from Texas A&M. His career as a pioneering Nuclear Physicist took him to groundbreaking work at Oak Ridge Laboratories in Oak Ridge, TN; General Dynamics, a national defense company in Fort Worth, TX; Raytheon in Waltham, MA; Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY; Space Age Materials Corporation (SAMCO) in Woodside, NY; and Pfizer Corporation's Space Age Division, New York, NY. In 1972 Mr. Robba moved to rural Boulder, Colorado, and built his dream home overlooking open space and mountain views. He developed the outdoor gear company Bota of Boulder with his son-in-law James Sanderson; now run by Mr. Robba's youngest son, Brady Bill Robba. Throughout his life his love of science, nature, and crafting was demonstrated through his tireless curiosity and multiple projects both indoors and out. Mr. Robba is survived by his first wife, Nancy DeHarte Bassett of Parnell, KY, their five living children; Nancy Suzanne Camejo of Santa Monica, CA; Bonnie Lee Sanderson of Laguna Beach, CA; Christopher De Harte Robba of San Pedro, CA; Brady Bill Robba of Boulder; CO , Christine Mallory DeHarte of Parnell, KY; their 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his second son Hugh Gebbie Robba, and granddaughters Chantica and Gabriella Camejo. He is also survived by his wife Shirley Ann Robba, of Boulder, CO., five step-children who lovingly called him 'Papa Bill': Michele Lucy of Bird City, KS, Bobby Lucy of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Marcella Dykes, Lookout Mountain CO, John Lucy, Loveland, CO, Maurice Lucy, Idaho Springs CO; 8 step-grandchildren, and 2 step-great-grandchildren. A Celebration Gathering for Mr. Robba will be held at the Elks Lodge, 525 Main St., Louisville, CO, on Wednesday, March 10, from 6:30pm to 9 pm. Memorial donations can be made to: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Ste. 7000, Segundo, CA 90245, or to HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026.

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