Robert Gerald Breedlove
Born: May 1, 1933
Patricia Theresa Breedlove
Born: May 28, 1939
On May 27th, 2020 the world shifted. Bob and Pat Breedlove were taken from their loved ones by an evil that we (the left behind) refuse to cast a shadow on the wonderful lives they led.
Bob Breedlove loved his wife Pat so much, he once said, “Neither one of us wants to imagine living without the other. The best we can hope for is to go out together...” It was their way to accept life fearlessly and make space for their diverse brood and help them throughout their lives. And if one of them was particularly problematic, they would do everything in their power to help especially that one, never letting the thought of danger stop them from love. They lived their lives with integrity, which meant showing up for their kids no matter what.
They worked together at San Leandro High School in the 70s and 80s, Bob as a Social Studies and history teacher, and Pat as a Custodian who gathered the cheerleaders to her every day in her office, like a super fun girl gang.
They married in 1980 in Yosemite Valley - in a field of tall wandering grass, Pat with a crown of flowers on her head. They spent their honeymoon doing what they loved, hiking into the backcountry of Yosemite. They set up house in a quiet town with a garden and a hot tub, where their kids could stop by. They secured property to be financially responsible, but mostly to be a haven for their family- they blessed so many people by offering a roof over their head, including both of their parents.
After they retired, they moved to Grass Valley, a place Bob researched as “the perfect elevation, not too hot, not too much snow,” and close enough to go skiing with friends, Pat cooking for the whole crew. Bob loved Skiing and anything outdoors. He once bragged, “I started skiing at 45, mastered Black Diamond at 60. By the time I’m 100, I’ll be in the Olympics.” Fast forward to when he was 85 and skiing with some of his grandchildren - he ran circles around them and laughed at their tumbles as he flew down the slope. He was force to be reckoned with and his age was truly just a number.
Pat, like him, was the epitome of security. She was a loving wife and a courageous mother. She always laughed at Bob's jokes, one of the many duties they shared as a team. In her free time, she surrounded herself with beauty. She always had a diverse garden, with creeping vines, lush vegetables, and wildflowers wherever there was room. She shared her passion with her son Chris and Daughter-in-law Sharon, who now manage the same garden that she started. In addition to tending the garden, Bob and Pat both were proud members of the Gem and Mineral Society, and they both loved traveling the world together.
Bob would have been happy on their 3-acre homestead, but Pat had a hunger for adventure. She insisted on trips to Hawaii, Europe, and Africa, and while exploring Bob took up his old art of photography with a newfangled digital camera. They delighted in the wildlife, geography, and ecosystems they encountered.
The two of them were parental figures, coaches, and teachers to thousands of children beyond their own offspring, through swimming, basketball, backpacking, the political systems of Washington DC, and how to raise money to do it, making and selling their special recipe of beef jerky. If they ran across anyone, young or grown, who was disillusioned, poor, or hit a streak of bad luck, they offered them a second chance, always there with a positive word, a loan, a boost, or a place to stay, an opportunity for those who had given up on themselves, to try again.
They are survived by a family that will never be the same in the wake of their loss. On the Breedlove side, Bob is survived by his kid as well as four nieces and nephews. As the Patriarchs of their family, they are also both survived by Pat's side of the family, two brothers and a sister-in-law (whom they loved dearly), two sons, 4 grandkids, and fifteen great-grandchildren. In their passing, they leave behind many unmentioned family members, lifelong friends, and many other people that they've impacted.
They were pillars for their family. They were selfless, kind, consistent, and above all-loving. Their legacy of love, hope, and faith in the goodwill of humans live on through everyone they ever met.
The prayer of St. Francis was Bob's favorite prayer. It says so much of him and so much of how he and Pat lived their lives. They will never be forgotten.
