Save the last dance for Bob

Through the miracles of modern technology, Bob Earl’s family and friends could gather in person, and on Zoom from Downey and as far away as Stockholm, Sweden, to celebrate his life with deep affection and good humor.

Bob died April 6 at “only” 85, surprising everyone because he had proclaimed the good news that his sensible lifestyle would take him to 105. Son Eddie Earl emceed the celebration at the Azar Event Center, and friend Steve Roberson opened his talk with two songs for Bob. 

“Everyone keeps saying what a good guy he was,” said Steve, Bob’s friend from the Kiwanis Club and endless YMCA fund-raising campaigns. “No one can argue with that, but what I want to add is that he was a good friend. He and JoAnne made me feel at home when I was new.” One of Steve’s songs ended, “You’re walking with angels now.”

Bob was a health food and exercise enthusiast, having lost his father to heart disease when Bob was a pre-teen. 

“He was trying to help, with all those lectures he would give,” Steve said, “and to this day I can’t look at white bread. Go topless, Bob would say, and he would show what he meant by taking the top off sandwiches and hamburgers.”

“We started planning his 105th birthday 20 years ago,” said Steve, “when Bob had his first heart attack.” 

From the tributes it was easy to see how much of himself Bob gave to the Downey community as well as to his family. Longest serving member of the Downey Family YMCA Board, for 50 years, Bob was equally proud of making those early morning meetings of Los Amigos Kiwanis, where he served as president and Pathfinder mentor for young boys.

“This is not an end,” said son Eddie Earl, “it’s a continuation. I am my father’s son.” 

The many contributions Bob made have already been well told, but the little stories this afternoon were the man himself, the real deal who drew his strength from family and friends, a network that expanded today to share his story.

Bob’s real name was Edward Dennis Earl, but his Arkansas grandfather liked to call him Bobby, a discrepancy his friend Ron Kolar, who gave the next tribute, was quick to tell us about.  

“He always called his friends on their birthday,” said Ron, “and he’d always save seats at Kiwanis so we could be together. But one day he called to say we couldn’t sit together because he’d be at the Bob Table, with fellow Bob’s like Bob Belcher and Bob Brazelton. So I couldn’t sit with them,” said Ron, “and the funny thing was, Bob’s not his name.”    

Bob’s full name was inscribed in 2007 in the Golden Book of Distinguished Service of the Metropolitan Los Angeles YMCA, a rare honor reserved for exemplary service and dedication to the YMCA.  Ron, a fellow Kiwanian and also a long-term supporter of the Downey Family YMCA, recalled more times together.

Bob loved the game of golf. “We played together, with Bill Zacker and Bill Lehman,” Ron said, naming old Kiwanis buddies. “Bob’s goal was always to beat us, at least on the back nine. And one time, he did. And he was always dreaming of ‘three perfect three woods.’ One day at Candlewood on a long par 5, Bob hit a three wood off the tee. ‘Now if I can put together three perfect three woods,’ Bob said. But he never did.” 

Son Eddie paid the last of the three formal tributes, recalling how his motivating force in his young years was to beat his father at golf, even giving up baseball his senior year in high school to play on the golf team to improve his game.

Eddie waved a plastic step-stool. “My dad used this in his speeches to show the three legs that support us in life,” he said. “One is unconditional love. Be kind and patient. The second is learning the great healing power of forgiveness.  The third is gratitude for life.

“My dad missed saying goodbye to his father when he died,” said Eddie. “So I never took my time with my father for granted.” 

At their home in Palm Desert, Bob always said it was just about as fun watching your grandchildren grow as it was watching your own children. His grandchildren loved spending time with ‘Nonni and Papa’ as Bob and Joanne are affectionately called.  

“My dad was in love with life,” said Eddy. “He danced with life. During the isolating times of Covid, my dad and my mom would come here to this beautiful Azar Center his friend Ebie Ghahanian has built, and they would stand outside and listen to the music. My mom JoAnne loves to dance, so she and Bob would dance together outside.”

“I’d like to ask everyone to stand,” said Eddy, “and dance one last time with Bob and JoAnne.”  

A large color video filled the screen, and lo and behold, as Frank Sinatra sang “You’re young at heart,” there were Bob and JoAnne, laughing and dancing together on the pavement. 

The video ended with “It’s a Wonderful World,” positive-thinking words Bob Earl lived by every day.