Biographical Information for Robert Lee Day |
Note: Robert "Bob" was born on Columbus Day, October 12, 1930 in Pasadena, CA. He lived in San Gabriel, CA, for a short while. Then his dad, Royal Harvey Day, who worked for the Union Oil Co., was transfered to West Los Angeles. Bob remembers the great flood of 1937. Later, they moved to Bakersfield, CA, where his dad was transfered. It was there where Royal caught the Valley Fever. They moved back to Pasadena where they lived on Mercedes. It was not until Bob's sixth birthday that he got his first tricycle. By 1938 the family bought their first house in Norwalk, CA. But alas, his dad died in 1940. Prior to that time, the family camped at Shaver Lake for several seasons. Also, he spent summers with his Aunt Ina (his mother's oldest sister). She had a delightful cabin in Alder Springs, near Auberry, CA. She taught us all about the stars and constellations. Bob remembers the 1928 Cadillac. They always went camping with it when both Bob and his brother, Rich, slept in the back. It took ten hours to reach Shaver. [Shaver Lake History]
Shaver Lake is named for pioneer lumberman C.B. Shaver, who logged in the area around the turn of the century. In 1893, Shaver built a small rock-filled dam that impounded water to form a small millpond to support logging operations. Shaver Lake was constructed by the Pacific Light and Power Corporation which in 1927 became Southern California Edison. The lake is part of the Big Creek Hydroelectric project employing a sophisticated system of lakes, tunnels, steel penstocks and power houses that today still converts water into electricity for use in millions of homes and businesses. Recreation
Shaver Lake is a popular recreational lake surrounded by thick pine forests and provides for boating camping, hiking, fishing as well as water sports activities like water skiing, jet skis and windsurfing. Canoe and Kayak enthusiasts will find many out of the way coves and miles of shoreline to explore.
For avid anglers looking to hook up a German brown, rainbow trout, Kokannee salmon, small mouth bass, bluegill or catfish, Shaver Lake is the ultimate angler destination and is open year around for fishing.
When Bob was about five, the family would visit Grandma Day's brother, Ben Loofbourrow, in Hollister, CA. He met Dwight, Harold and Perry then. That's where he had his first horseback ride.
Bob attended Longfellow Grammar School when they moved to Grandma Torgerson's (mom's mother). From there he attended John Marshall Jr. High School and then on to Pasadena Jr. College. It later became Pasadena City College, where he graduated from the 14th grade. By then, he went through three Rose Bowl graduation ceremonies.
He worked summers at Big Creek, Edison's hydro power complex, as a surveyor. He became fast friends with several kids who lived there with their families. By then, it was 1950 and time to attend Berkeley in Architecture. By 1952, he changed majors to Civil Engineering at Fresno State, only to become drafted during the Korean War.
The Korean experience was fascinating since the war was practically over when he arrived. He managed to get assigned to a photo mapping unit. Also, he represented the unit in the AFAK, Armed Forces Assistance to Korea. It was there that he learned to use chop sticks and sit cross legged. He learned much about the Far East and Asia. There were two R&R trips to Japan as well.
As soon as Bob disembarked, he married Grace in August 1954 in Spokane, WA. They got to enjoy Grace's sister's house the first night before they headed south where Bob was officially discharged. Unfortunately, he borrowed Grace's car, and she had to take the bus to Fort Ord to look for him and her car.
They settled in Fresno where Grace taught school in Firebaugh, and Bob attended Fresno State catching up on Civil Engineering. In June of 1955, they moved back to Berkeley and attended UC Berkeley. It was there when Grace became pregnant with Rick, and he was born May 13, 1956. The next year they moved to Walnut Creek, and Grace graduated and Bob began graduate school. However, he didn't finish because he continued to work for SCE during the summers. When Grace graduated, she taught kindergarten in Lafayette and in Orinda. They left for the Southland (La Mirada) in 1958. It was that year that Margy was born. In 1962, Lori was born. They had just bought a new house there where they lived for six years.
In 1964, they moved into a two-story house in Fullerton. It was right across the street from the high school where they all walked to school. In 1968, Michael was born. By college age, Rick went to San Diego State, Margy went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Lori went to Adult School and Mike got a full scholarship to UC Santa Barbara. He was a water polo star.
Between 1960 and 1996, they traveled extensively, first around Asia, then Europe.
Today, Rick has his own contracting business, and Mike works for him as an estimator. Lori is an accountant and is married to Alan, who does appraising. Margy teaches kindergarten in Arroyo Grande; her husband, Peter, is an administrator.
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