Robert Edward Jones' Obituary
Robert “Bob” Edward Jones passed away Christmas Day, 2023 after a happy life, spent with cherished family, colleagues and friends, immersed in the world of scientific academia - a world he embodied and to which he gave himself fully.
Bob was born and grew up in San Diego, a region near to his heart throughout his life. He attended San Diego State University with studies in chemistry and geology. From then on his professional life was completely intertwined with complex instrumentation, devices that require top-notch specialist skills to use and maintain. Bob devoted himself to this equipment and became a technical micro-beam expert, a microprobe spectroscopist with a national and international reputation. He spent 25 years in UCLA’s Department of Earth & Space Sciences, and then a further 23 at Stanford in the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences. He presented illuminating graduate courses on mineralogic micro-analysis for several generations of students at both institutions. In addition, he also provided support for diverse geologic field projects, especially in the White-Inyo Range of eastern California. He and his beloved wife of 52 years, Vicki, spent many summers at White Mountain Research Center, supporting the field work of countless students and faculty – even sometimes “just” being the necessary companion on high desert mapping expeditions. The two of them also provided a home-away-from for many graduate students in both Los Angeles and Palo Alto, providing warm fellowship, supportive encouragement and delicious meals to scientists who now live and work world-wide. These former students describe how important Bob was to their growth and professional success. They reflect with gratitude and nostalgia on the cohesion and warm friendships Bob inspired and nurtured in a professional world where such relationships are rare.
Bob, in his “free” time enjoyed piloting his own small plane, taking day excursions from Los Angeles to the old Nut Tree for a meal or flying to Grand Teton National Park for a “get away”. Bob and Vicki used their plane to visit and keep in touch with family and friends north to south, from Victoria BC to San Diego – often letting young nieces and nephews have the ride of a lifetime in the front passenger seat.
Bob was generous, honest, and fun-loving – he maintained a rapid quick wit up until the end of his life. An ultra-meticulous scientist with an energetic and active mind, he had a true heart for people. He was devoted to family and is dearly missed. Bob is survived by an adored brother, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and was predeceased by his beloved Victoria, on October 29, 2022. He missed her daily.
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