Robert "Bob" Verderber passed away in his sleep, February 21, 2012. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Flag Day, June 14, 1929, he was the eldest of three children of Herman and Leonora Ellis Verderber. Bob was raised in Cleveland, graduated from Cathedral Latin High School and Fenn College (now Cleveland State University) in 1957 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He received his master's in industrial engineering at USC in 1964.After graduating from Fenn College, Bob worked as a process engineer for the Euclid Division of General Motors Corporation. In 1961, he moved to Downey and went to work for the Space Division of North American Rockwell as a Project Engineer for the Apollo Program, eventually becoming Chief Industrial Engineer responsible for Division Work Measurement Program and providing management consulting and operations research services within the Space Division. Bob served as national officer and/or local officer more that 60 times for seven different national professional societies. He was appointed to the California Board of Professional Engineers by Governor Deukmejian in 1990. He served on the California Legislative Council for Professional Engineers for many years and was Vice-President of this body from 1976-80. While working in the aerospace industry, Bob taught evening courses as an adjunct faculty member at local colleges and universities. He specialized in teaching engineering and industrial management courses. He loved the academic environment leading him to serve three terms on the Cerritos College Board of Trustees. He was President of the Board in 1997 and 2003. He served as Secretary in 2004. He received the Golden Falcon Award from students in 1995. Bob volunteered many hours of service to the community. He was a member of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee and Technology Manager for the Field Hockey Event. He served on the Downey Planning Commission and the Downey Chamber of Commerce both as a member and as Chairman or President. He was a supporter of the Downey Civic Light Opera, Downey Symphonic Society, Downey Art Museum and Member of the Downey Rose Float Association, Friends of the Downey Library and the Downey Kiwanis Club. He was an avid Republican supporter. He retired in 1995 and soon found that he wasn't built for retirement. So he turned to his love of education and took the California test for an Emergency Credential, passed and was hired as a Substitute Teacher in the Downey Unified School District. He then attended evening classes at CSU-Long Beach, receiving a California Single-Subject Credential in Mathematics in 2004. Bob loved all sports, especially USC Trojan football. He was a member of the Cardinal & Gold - USC Athletic Support Group. He was fascinated by science and mathematics. He loved music and took up the saxophone after retiring, taking courses and playing in the jazz band at Cerritos College. Bob is survived by his sister, Anne Taylor of San Diego; his brother Roy (wife Lois) of Dumfries Virginia; niece & nephew Amy Matero and Jim Verderber, both of Woodbridge Virginia; his former wife Diane Boggs of Downey, and his step-children and grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, March 24th, 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Downey.

********** Published: March 22, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 49