Share Your Memory

I sent this email to Rob's sister after I recently learned of his passing:

Cathy

I reached out several years ago when I learned 23andme showed us as DNA cousins with a shared family connection in Italy.  You put me in touch with Rob to learn more about our connection. I was shocked and saddened  to learn of his death just moments ago.  He and I last connected back in August of 2023 after he graciously arranged a meeting between Zio Rinaldo and I during my visit to Italy.  I knew he made annual visits to the Alps followed by a visit with Zio Rinaldo and I Googled Rob's name to see his latest travels.  

Rob and I never spoke, just traded emails.  He shared the family history he knew from what Zio Rinaldo had researched. But in those few emails, Rob's words and actions made me feel like a member…

Dear Rob,

I miss you.

It’s as simple as that most of the time. Some days more than others. I’m sure in time, this will fade somewhat, and the pain and loss will come less frequently.

But today I missed you a lot.

I don’t know where to start this letter because in many ways, I have lost sight of where you ended, and I began. Cheesy as it may be, and you’d no doubt call me out for that, but on a scale of zero to *NSync, you have affected every part of who I am, who I have become, and who I work to be.

I wasn’t a good friend to you these past few years. That’s on me and I have to own that for the rest of my life. In a tragic bit of irony, I had reached out with intention to fix things. We exchanged…

I first met Rob in Italy. He was a journalist and I was just beginning my cycling tour company. He came to write an article about what I was up to, won an award for the article and earned my respect for life.

For the next decades Rob helped guide alongside me, bringing his witty, resilient character to the mix. We rode together on dozens of trips all over Italy and parts of France and California. He became a best friend and a brother to me during those years. 

Rob was a fixture at my dining table. For a time we cooked and ate together several times a week. Cooking mostly Italian food and inviting a few or 20 people to join us. His minestrone, with ample pancetta, was always the star of the show, enjoyed even by the most reluctant vegetarians. He organized The Big Night where we took…

Back in 2003 and 2004, we were blessed to have Rob as a guide on two Hampsten cycling tours. The first in Toscana and the second in the Santa Rosa, Ca area. As all of you who know Rob better than we do, we had the best of times with him on those rides. His intelligence and wit were always a daily source of pleasure and laughs.

We continued to correspond now and again via social media with Rob all the years after the tour. I happened to be in England and posted this to FB with the caption “See if you can guess where I am now”.

Literally, within seconds, Rob posted back “I love Las Vegas!”. That was back in 2015. I am still laughing. Such a quick wit.

Miss you Rob!