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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Aug 31, 2016 - 04:55pm PT
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Peace
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jharby
Social climber
San Diego, CA
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Hi - No one probably knows me but I knew Robert from high school - we called him "Bert". I also was in touch with him later about software as I'm in the computer software biz. I was googling for his info again because I've got a cool software project in the music biz I thought maybe we could work on together and was really shocked by this news. I'd definitely want to attend this memorial so I'll keep watch on this thread.
Thanks,
John Harby
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 2, 2016 - 06:55am PT
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Great to hear from John. I will add you to the list.
Photo from Skip and Erik.
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HF
climber
I'm a Norwegian stuck in Joshua Tree
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Thanks again everyone for wonderful photos of Robert. Looking at them makes me smile (and sometimes cry). Please keep them coming.
Here is a photo from a few years ago, when living on the ranch gave us a new challenge. Needless to say Robert was a lot less thrilled about it than I was...
Hilde
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 2, 2016 - 01:21pm PT
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Wow Hilde, that is a classic.
I remember several years ago, before I met Robert in person, we were having a good laugh about his red truck and all the snow on it. He had put the windshield wipers up so the snow and and ice would freeze them to windshield, and was wondering the wtf he was doing that for in the desert.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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I really wish I could of got to to hang with Fonda for a day. He and Woody were 2 guys I really wanted to talk to.
Someday I will. Really sucks waiting though....I miss them both.
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HF
climber
I'm a Norwegian stuck in Joshua Tree
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A man of many talents, and with many friends, perfect for life at the ranch
PS! Good Friend Steve S. is the supervisor/helper with dam project in the photo above.
Come on folks, post them up.
Hilde
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Once I got to know him, sit and converse, sit and listen and sit and appreciate him for who he was.....his real genious came to infuse me. I so looked forward to hanging with him for so many years just to absorb his wisdom, then the last time Bridwell and I came out to help with chores, I realized, I missed it. I miss him!
Peace
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HF
climber
I'm a Norwegian stuck in Joshua Tree
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Ron,
I couldn't have said it better. I miss him every day, I miss talking to him, I miss seeing his smile, hearing his laughter, and yes I too thought I would enjoy his company, his intellect, his kindness, his caring way of being with me and his many friends for years to come. He never liked it when I told him he was my hero, and my knight in shining armor, but he was: however cheesy that may sound. He always made me feel safe and protected, especially when I was at my weakest during the challenging times for us both with my cancer treatments and surgeries. Then I witnessed my brave and caring husband getting sicker, and weaker, and never complaining, and I found myself wanting and needing to protect him when he no longer had the strength to defend himself.
I don;t know if any of this makes any sense, but that is how I feel about the last year of our life together.
He is watching me from the wallpaper on my computer screen, looking me in the eyes, from one of the formations on the ranch. Wearing a harness, his rattiest Mountain Hardware Ball Cap, just sitting there relaxed with the faint beginning of a smile. Thank you Steve for sending me that photo. How I wish all of this was a bad dream, a really terrible prank, and that I will hear the sound of the little red wreck coming up the driveway at the ranch. Then I look out the window of my new home and see the truck sitting there silent and alone without its real owner to take it for a ride in the morning.
Thank you Ron for your wonderful words, and for allowing everyone that reads them to take part in your grief.
Hilde
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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I met Robert at Trashcan Rock. I was doing some bouldering on the shady side; Ripper, Butterfly Crack, etc. So this guy wearing heavy work boots, old jeans and a dirty shirt walks up to me. “What the hell are you doing?” He took me by surprise. I couldn’t size him up. I was standing there in elfin shoes, tights, a color coordinated tank top and a chalk bag. And here, addressing me somewhat bluntly, was a real man. Salt of the earth. How to answer. “I’m climbing the rock?” No, that was obvious. So I just stood there feeling foolish.
He walked over to the start of Butterfly crack and reached up toward the tips locker. “This reach gets longer over the years as the dirt erodes.” I had just been sandbagged in fine style.
After that we’d cross paths once in a while with a nod or “what’s up”? Reading this thread I realize I missed out bigtime by not going out of my way to know him better.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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It's getting that time of year Hilde....Robert would call and tell me, "the strawberries are ripening Gomez!" My que that there were chores to be done, to get my butt out to the ranch for fun times, great company and a little hard work! Someone needs to call this year and let me know The Strawberries Are Ripening! It's what Joshua Tree climbing season came to be for me.
Peace
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Amen Locker. Will be GUD to see you Brother! You played a huge part in my life today...know it or knot! I think you do.
Peace
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Daniel Thiele
Trad climber
up in the high country, ca.
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Well like Hildi and a everyone else, I also really miss him. I am very grateful to have had such an incredible friend and not having him here anymore has been rough, but I have been getting through it. I would give anything to be sitting at the back patio of the ranch right now as Robert talks up a storm and tells stories as I laugh and drink beer. He sure was one of a kind.
BTW, thank you Hildi and Steve for being there for me, you have helped me more than you know...
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA/Joshua Tree
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Count Steve and I in.
Robert was one of a kind. A friend I miss dearly.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 6, 2016 - 09:38am PT
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Attendee list so far...Updated 9/10
1. Hilde Fonda
2. Ron Gomez
3. Kelly Gomez
4. Rob Stahl
5. Debbie Walden
6. Ted DeWitt
7. John DeWitt
8. Kat Colella
9. Jacob Colella
10. Locker
11. Justthemaid
12. MisterE
13. Sonya
14. Kate
15. Cragman
16. Scole
17. Dave Evans
18. Todd Gordon
19. Lynne Leichtfuss
20. Tucker Tech
21. Greg O
22. Greg Epperson
23. Mingo Morvin
24. Dan Zacks
25. Cindy Zacks
26. Seth Zaharias
27. Sabra Purdy
28. Steve Swan
29. George Armstrong
30. Janet Armstrong
31. Liz Blanchard
32. Joan DeWitt
33. Mason DeWitt
34. Doug Green
35. Joe De Luca
36. Carey De Luca
37. Angel
38. Bob Sukovich
39. Phil Spinelli
40. Tom Blaylock
41. Daniel Thiele
42. GDavis
43. John Harby
44. Floride
45. Steve ?
46. Tom Romisch
47. Sindy Romisch
48. Tom Ace
49. David Harrison
50. Becky Harrison
51. Mary Ann Kelly
Can't wait to see everyone and share stories of our times with Robert! Not a day goes by that I don't sit down and think about our times together and his generosity. The last time we went out to climb "The Chief", he wasn't feeling great, but he was so positive and such good company the whole way. I still get choked up when I remember sitting at the base after we were done, looking out over the desert as the sun was going down. There was no place in this world I would rather be.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 16, 2016 - 10:28am PT
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Attendee list so far...Updated 9/24
1. Hilde Fonda
2. Ron Gomez
3. Kelly Gomez
4. Rob Stahl
5. Debbie Walden
6. Ted DeWitt
7. John DeWitt
8. Kat Colella
9. Jacob Colella
10. Locker
11. Justthemaid
12. MisterE
13. Sonya
14. Kate
15. Cragman
16. Scole
17. Dave Evans
18. Todd Gordon
19. Lynne Leichtfuss
20. Tucker Tech
21. Greg O
22. Greg Epperson
23. Mingo Morvin
24. Dan Zacks
25. Cindy Zacks
26. Seth Zaharias
27. Sabra Purdy
28. Steve Swan
29. George Armstrong
30. Janet Armstrong
31. Liz Blanchard
32. Joan DeWitt
33. Mason DeWitt
34. Doug Green
35. Joe De Luca
36. Carey De Luca
37. Angel
38. Bob Sukovich
39. Phil Spinelli
40. Tom Blaylock
41. Daniel Thiele
42. GDavis
43. John Harby
44. Floride
45. Steve ?
46. Tom Romisch
47. Sindy Romisch
48. Tom Ace
49. David Harrison
50. Becky Harrison
51. Mary Ann Kelly
52. Simon Bentley
53. Cal Gerberding
54. Steve Gerberding
55. Jim Bridwell
56. Sharon Nieukirk
57. Natalie DeWitt
58. Brett Pearce
59. H
60. John Durr
61. Scott Levitin
62. Paul VanderValk
63. Gina VanderValk
64. Karl Von Halle
65. Cindy Von Halle
If you have pictures of Robert to share, please send them in or post them in the next couple of weeks so we can start getting the slide show together. Thank you to everyone who has shared the great shots so far!
Peace to you all.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Sep 16, 2016 - 10:34am PT
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Bridwell will join me
Peace
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