Robert F. Fornia 1932-2003 (70)

In Memory

Robert Francis Fornia

Athlete, Aviator, Engineer - Great Dad, GrandDad and Uncle

September 24, 1932 - June 3, 2003

The following biography was prepared by Julie Fornia Saathoff:

Bob was a man of integrity and quiet strength, loved dearly by his wife and family. Born in Seattle in 1932, he was the youngest of five children. He graduated in 1950 from Roosevelt High School., graduated in materials engineering from the University of Washington and later earned an MBA at University of Southern California.

While at the UW, Bob was in the Bets Theta Pi fraternity, Air Force ROTC, Big W Club and was a record setting member of the track team, winning the PAC 8 championship in the 1 mile race in 1953.

It was at the University that he met Helene van Tyen of Spokane, who was to become the love of his life and his companion for the next 50 years. They married in the summer of 1955 and shortly after began their adventures as a military family.

Bob served as an officer and pilot in the Air Force for over 20 years, living in Texas (where Flick was born), northern Maine (where Julie was born), Alabama, California, eastern Washington, and Michigan; retiring in 1976 as a Lt. Colonel. He flew B-52's in Vietnam, earning two Distinguished Flying Cross medals and other honors for his skill and dedicatin. He understood and appreciated the role of the military in aiding peace among nations.

After leaving the military in 1976, Bob and his family returned to the Seattle area, settling in Clyde Hill. He worked in engineering sales for Emerson Electric until retiring in 1993. A charter member of the Bellevue Club, he enjoyed competing n racquetball tournaments. Bob posessed a great curiosity and interest in a variety of subjects, loved to tinker with gadgets and electronic devices, and was an avid computer user. Although he traveled extensively in his military career, Bob loved to plan vacations. He and Helene delighted in their adventures all over Europe and North America.

Bob will be remembered as a kind, gentle man, quick with a handshake. He provided loving support to his wife, and taught his children to value integrity and to do their best in their endeavors. He lived a full and rich life.

We miss you Dad.

1995 with Julie at Carr Steinat's

1978

In college he set a school record that stood for many years.
I think it was a 1 minute 12 second mile.

Uncle Bob told me that he thought he was the instigator of the feud between his mother and her sister Fern.
He and Joe Winchel were at Roosevelt HS at the same time. They lived in the same neighborhood and walked to school with the same group.
At one point, on the way home, they got into a fight over a girl. Bob thought Joe had insulted one of the girls in their group and tried to make him appologize. Joe got hurt in the fight.
Fern blew it out of proportion (according to him). Jo took Bob's side. The sisters had words and never talked again despite living three blocks apart. This happened in 1947,
when Howard & Louise were living in the cottage at Fern's. Grandma made them move which was a hardship because rentals were scarce in the post WWII period.