Melvin Albert Tobias' Obituary
Melvin Albert Tobias (known as “Mickey” to his family) passed away peacefully on July 3, 2015 after a courageous battle with diabetes and heart failure. He was 77.Mel was born on March 14, 1938 in Chicago, IL to his parents, Jerome and Beatrice Tobias. He served at 5th Army Headquarters in Chicago before starting his career by founding a company that made some of the first vehicle alarm systems. He then moved to California and went on to design and sell commercial laundry systems. He then took on the challenge of building his own companies, Research Specialists, Inc., a property insurance inspection business and Pacific Rim Investigations for workers compensation. Mel was gratified that under his guidance the business operations are still thriving after 43 years. He was proud that his son David had joined him in business and is now the company President. Many in the insurance and inspection industries recognized Mel as an innovator, being the first to computerize insurance reporting. Both business colleagues and friends enjoyed his gregarious and inquisitive personality, his interest in others and his willingness to help.In 1977 he met his loving wife, Patricia (Trish) in Foster City, CA and they married the next year and happily welcomed their daughter and son a few years later. In addition to being a doting father to his children, he had a great love for the many Schnauzers that were welcomed into the family. Mel and Trish had a loving marriage for 37 years.Besides work, Mel loved to take road trips throughout California, the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest and Canada with his family. Mel’s fondness for travel came from memories of his father taking his family on road trips across the United States. He enjoyed visiting his beloved sisters and their families in Chicago. He was especially drawn to the water and as a child, he speed-skated on Lake Michigan. As an adult, he loved to swim and be near the sea. From a young age, Mel also enjoyed taking photographs and was a contributing photographer to the Chicago Tribune at the age of 16.Mel is survived by his wife, Patricia Tobias; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Anita and Donald Silvertrust; Renee and Burton Field; his daughter and daughter-in-law, Wendy Tobias and Andra Kimball; and his son and daughter-in-law, David and Kate Tobias; and his many cousins, nieces and nephews. Mel also had a great relationship with his sister-in-law and her husband, Cyndy and Dennis Bills; and his brother-in-law, Phil Hanrahan.The family is grateful to the many doctors and nurses of Mills-Peninsula Hospital who provided such exceptional care with special gratitude to Dr. John Beare, Dr. Mary Brzostowicz, Dr. Samuel Chan, Dr. Donald Ho and Dr. William Zigrang for allowing him to have many years of a full life. Thanks also to the caring staff of Pacifica Nursing and Rehab Center.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial bench fund for Mel at Farragut Park in Foster City, American Heart Association or Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation.
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