Browse the obituary of Robert John Cortelyou July 2 1937 November 27 2022 residing in Dayton, Ohio for funeral burial details. Write a message of sympathy or a last tribute to perpetue the friendship thread
July 2 1937 November 27 2022
Obituary Please share a memory of Robert to include in a keepsake book for family and friends. View Tribute Book Robert John Cortelyou (Bob) passed away November 27, 2022 comfortably after a short illness surrounded by family. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Barbara and their two sons Robert Jr (Elizabeth) and John (Michelle) and his grandson Ryan, his sister Dorothy Lapera and many nieces and nephews. Bob was born in Taft California on July 2, 1937. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1940. He graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and was in the Tau Sigma honors program. Upon graduation he started work with General Electric and was accepted into their competitive Creative Engineering Training Program which had him move from San Jose, to Louisville KY, then Pittsfield MA. The program was similar to an in-company Master’s Degree program. In order to take control of his military obligation, and with his supervisor’s blessing, he took leave from GE, went into the Navy Officer Candidate Program, got his Navy Commission, then spent 3 years as officer aboard the USS ROWAN (DD-782). He continued in the Navy Reserve program for 27 years and retired as a Captain. Upon completion of his active Navy service, he worked with the California State Dept of Water Resources on the State Water Project in Sacramento, then after 6 years, moved to the Sonoma County Water Agency where he spent the remainder of his engineering career finally serving as Principal Engineer for the Design Engineering Section. He was licensed with the Calif. Dept of Consumer Affairs in both Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. He was a lifetime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His favorite activities were travel (to over 50 countries), keeping his 1930 Model A Ford running while being an active member of the Sonoma A’s car club, playing bridge, and enjoying the company of friends. Bob was proud to be an American and to have been blessed with the opportunities he and his family had in our country. A celebration of life for Bob will be held at the at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the Berger Center, 6633 Oakmont Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95409. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert, please visit our floral store. Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Robert John Cortelyou July 2 1937 November 27 2022.
Death notice for the town of: Dayton, state: Ohio