Robert "Bob" Tornai's Obituary
Robert “Bob” Tornai of Palo Cedro, California, passed away on Friday, November 10, 2023 at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and his two daughters, Jenna and Kathryn, as well as his two sisters, Sandra (Gary) and Chrissy.
Bob was born in San Francisco on March 16, 1944, to Frank and Katherine Tornai. He attended Hillsdale High School in San Mateo and Canada College in Redwood City, California.
Bob married his wife Joan in June of 1989. They moved to northern California in 2002 to raise their daughters in a more rural environment that was reminiscent of the time Bob spent on his uncle’s farm in Santa Rosa when he was younger. He learned to drive on the farm at twelve years old and always described himself as a “wheel man.”
Bob joined the US Army Reserve in February 1965. He was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, and served as a cook before being honorably discharged and returning to California.
Bob had many stories of his adventures hunting, fishing, racing dirt bikes, and enjoying time spent outdoors. He got bit by the “gold bug” and caught “gold fever” when chaperoning Jenna’s elementary school field trip to the Carr Powerhouse at Whiskeytown Lake. Last October he and Joan traveled to Trinidad, CA. in search of beach agates. He had recently rekindled his interest in hunting for gems and minerals, and he picked up interesting rocks everywhere he went.
Bob was a member of the seasonal choir at First Presbyterian Church in Redding, as well as being a choir member at his previous church, Peninsula Covent Church in Redwood City
Bob spent his career working for the Operating Engineers union as a heavy equipment operator and was known to his coworkers as “Backhoe Bob” because of his skill with the machines. After retirement, he became involved in competitive ARA target shooting with many of his friends from the Redding Gun Club, where he became known as “Barefoot Bob” due to his tendency to compete in shooting matches without his shoes on. He was pleased to win First Place in the Unlimited Class, American Rimfire Association Bench Rest Competition in 2015.
He had the ability to make friends everywhere he went, and could easily turn a short trip to the grocery store or gas station into an hour-long conversation with someone he’d just met. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A viewing will be held Friday, November 17th at the Allen & Dahl funeral chapel in Palo Cedro, California from 4 PM to 5 PM. A graveside service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 2 PM. A reception will follow at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City at 4 PM.
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