Robert Michael Jordan
April 7, 1946-October 18, 2024
Bob Jordan passed away at home on October 18, surrounded by his loving family, after a 7-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Bob lived a full and passionate life in his 78 years, a life filled with family, friends, meaningful work, adventures, travel, and especially music whether it was jazz, blues or opera. He was a man who loved life, loved his family and gave back to his community. He was a man who accomplished many things, using his intelligence, compassion, wit, generosity, and kindness. His smile could light up a room.
Born and raised in Connecticut, after graduating from Dartmouth College, he joined the Peace Corps in 1968 to spend 2 years in Bogota, Colombia community organizing in its barrios. Returning to the U.S. in 1971, he landed at a communal apple farm in Yorkville, and worked for California Human Development, a non-profit organization in Santa Rosa for 30 years. As chief of operations, he helped thousands of immigrants and farm workers gain technical and vocational skills to better their lives. He also was their corporate pilot, a “job” he loved. He taught conversational Spanish for 27 semesters at Mendocino College. Bob always said he found much gratification with his life choices and community involvement.
In 1995, when his son was 5, the family moved to Cloverdale, a town he cared about deeply. He served for 13 years on the Planning Commission, was in Toastmasters, Druids, a docent at the History Museum and helped with the Food Pantry. He loved the entertainment events in town, especially Friday Night Live, CPAC plays and shows, The Jazz club and Americana. Bob loved music and dancing. He met his wife in 1985 dancing under the moonlight in Cozumel, Mexico on a scuba diving trip, and they kept on dancing throughout their marriage! His spirit was infectious!
After retiring in 2002, he continued serving on the History Museum board and CHD’s board in Santa Rosa. In the years before he became ill, he and his wife Jennifer traveled extensively to New England and Florida to visit family, to Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Europe.
Bob leaves a loving family, his wife of 39 years Jennifer and son Andrew(Carsen), brother Dick (Jacque), niece Elena (Liam), brother-in-law Antony (Kathy) and niece Caroline (Neil) and their 2 children, all who live in England, and our Connecticut family, sister-in-law Terry, nephews Jody (Michaela) and Tristan(Jennifer), and niece Nell (Roger) and 8 great-nephews and great-nieces.
The family wishes to thank the angels who work for Anchor Hospice for their compassionate care for Bob and his family in the last 5 months of his life. He felt so loved and always greeted them with one of his big smiles.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, when our grief has subsided.
