Bob was a loving and dedicated husband, father, papa, and community leader.
He was born in Sacramento on March 4, 1933, and was raised in the North Sacramento area by his parents John and Dorothy Bastian who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Susan, children Stacey, Bobby, Mark, Michael, Michelle, many beloved grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and loving cousins.
Bob attended McClellan, Rio Linda, and Hagginwood schools before graduating from Grant High School as a proud “Pacer for Life.” He was student body president, a football player, and an All-Metro lineman while attending Grant HS.
Bob continued his education at Grant Tech and American River College where he was a student body president and earned his Associate of Arts Degree before transferring to Sacramento State. He played on the football team and worked his way through college by working in maintenance for the Grant HS district.
He obtained a BA in Education and a MA in Special Education from Sacramento State.
He taught at Del Paso Junior HS and Lincoln High School where he was also a football and baseball coach. He then went to the Rio Linda Union School District where he taught for over 30 years. He was a much-beloved Special Education teacher, counselor, summer school administrator, and president of the teachers association.
Bob not only dedicated his life to his family but to his students and community. He served as Chairperson of the first elected Rio Linda/Elverta Recreation and Park District Board, was a founding member, past president, and vice president of the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society, developed and coordinated Kid’s Day at the annual RLEHS Farm and Tractor Days by arranging involvement and transportation so school children could attend.
He was a faithful Rio Linda/Elverta Lions Club member for 49 years and demonstrated the true meaning of Lionism which is to serve the community. During his years he served as President, Vice President, Vision Chairperson which provided eye exams and glasses to needy children, the scholarship committee, and coordinated the Ruby’s Christmas Basket program with local schools.
Bob believed in being an active part of his community. He was a member of the Rio Linda Chamber of Commerce, a Mason, a Shriner especially dedicated to the Shriners hospital for children, a member of the Grant Alumni Association, Grange and Dry Creek
Parkway committee, a Special Olympics and Pop Warner football coach, 4-H Club leader, and CRASH committee member which developed the overpass at Elkhorn Blvd. and highways 70/99.
Bob was a Sacramento County Parks and Recreation Commissioner representing District 1 for over 20 years.
In his spare time, Bob enjoyed watching Stacey and Bobby at the Sacramento County and California State Fairs and transporting their many animals and exhibits, family camping trips, attending high school football games, especially Bobby’s, tending to his ranch, watching western shows/movies and riding horses. He participated in a re-enactment ride of the Pony Express in 1986 on his horse, Misty and was a member of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Posse with his palomino, Prince.
After retiring from the RLUSD in 1996 he pursued his deep commitment to schools by being elected to the RLUSD Board of Trustees on which he served for 12 years. He was then elected to the Twin Rivers Unified School District Board of Trustees representing Area 4 in 2007. He was instrumental in the development of Career Technical classes at the high schools and bringing back the agriculture program at RLHS. He served on the TRUSD Board until his passing and even participated in a TR board meeting the night before he passed away.
Bob always took the time to listen and problem solve in a compassionate and honest manner. Whatever the need, he was always there to help. He fought and beat cancer four times but through it all, kept striving to better his community. Bob exemplified all that a true leader should be. Heaven must have needed a hero and a great leader.
“Your presence we miss, Your memories we treasure, Loving you always, forgetting you never.”
The family invites the community to a celebration of Bob’s life on March 5, 2022, 1 PM at the Dry Creek Ranch House, 6852 Dry Creek Road in Rio Linda.
Remembrances may be made to the We Are TR Foundation (https://bit.ly/WEARETRFOUNDATION) to support student activities in their communities, the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society (PO Box 478, Rio Linda, CA 95673) or to a charity of your choice.
