Bob Byington
October 28, 1928 - May 4, 2025
Bob Byington was born in Loyalton, California to Theodore and Norene Byington almost to the day October 28, 1928, that the great depression started. His father left his sister and mother when he was a baby.
Bob attended many different schools in Oakland, California area- a new one almost every year so between his jobs and changes he never formed friendships during his school years.
When Bob was twelve years old, he started delivering papers for the Oakland Tribune. At the age of 13, Bob worked at a local grocery store before and after school and then went on to be a janitor at a Coca-Cola Carnation plant. He set pins at a bowling alley and was a golf caddy at 14. At the age of 16 he spent time on sea-going tugs and at 17 he spent 2 ½ years on
Standard Oil Tankers.
Bob started college as San Jose State when he was 19. He met his first wife there and they were married between their sophomore and junior years. At this time Bob had two draft deferments, so he joined the army to get his military obligations over. He was sent to Korea and was there from October 6, 1952, to September 22, 1954. When Bob’s military service ended, he had four years of college accumulated with Army Service. He discovered while he was in Korea that he loved teaching, so he spent another year getting a teaching degree in science.
Bob taught school in Tracy, Felton, Soquel and finally at Harbor High School in the Math Science Department. He got his master’s degree at Kansas State Teachers College. While at Harbor High School Bob taught a specialized Oceanography Class that lasted for 15 years. At a recent 40th year class reunion a group of his students posted the following: “A number of us firmly believe and credit you with singlehandedly preparing us for the challenges of college.”
He had one student who received a PHD from MIT and he dedicated his PHD to Bob.
When Bob retired from teaching, he worked at the Santa Cruz Port District and was instrumental through research of preventing fish kills in the harbor.
Bob and his first wife divorced in 1986 and in 1988 he married divorced Cindy Wilson Borda. After a nine-year commute marriage from Santa Cruz, California Bob moved to Carson City. While living in Carson, Bob volunteered at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, the Brewery Arts Center, The Sheriff’s Office, RSVP, The Investigations Division for the State of Nevada and the Friends of the Library.
One of Bob’s greatest pleasures in life was spending times with his dogs that he always remarked that he liked more than people. One of the saddest days for Bob was losing his beloved Tripper (Golden Retriever). They had commuted together for the 9-year commute marriage.
Bob is survived by his wife, Cindy, daughter Donna Bergot and sons Ben and Ernie Byington, and stepsons Billy and Johnny Borda and their families.
There will be a private burial at a future date.
Bob passed away peacefully in his sleep, on May 4th, 2025. His favorite motto was “No debts and few regrets.”