Robert Stewart Bardwil

Robert Bardwil (August 5th,1954 - January 6th, 2026) was born in Los Angeles, California, as the third of five children of Richard and Elizabeth (Helfer) Bardwil. He grew up alongside his siblings Steven, Nancy, Mary and Lori in Encino, CA, where he was an altar boy at Our Lady of Grace Church.

He attended UCLA where he met the love of his life and wife of 48 years, Linda (Ahlgren) Bardwil. After graduation the two were married, and Bob attended Southwestern School of Law. With Linda by his side, the two moved to the Sacramento area, where he practiced bankruptcy law for 25 years before taking the bench as a Federal Bankruptcy Judge in 2005. He sat in that capacity until 2020 when he retired.

Bob and Linda were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Jamie (1986) and Kelly (1988). They were the joy of his life. He thrived as a father, lawyer, and local personality in Auburn, where every day he would greet friends and acquaintances from his bicycle while riding along local streets and on the trails of the American River Canyon.

Bob will be dearly missed by his wife, daughters, son in laws, Allistair and Brandon, siblings, grandchildren, friends espcially his best friend and cycling buddy, David Laughrea, and the local Auburn community. He adored his six grandchildren, Peyton, Hazel, Brecken, Otis, Savannah, and Sonny, who all continue his legacy and have inherited his passion for nature and the outdoors.

Bob lived his last day just as he loved, by riding his bike, enjoying his sauna, and going for pizza with Linda.

Most recently Bob spent the holiday giving back to others. He had also recently reconnected with his faith and went to church for his weekly "dedicated hour of gratitude" at St. Joseph in Auburn.

Bob will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him: his many professional friends, his beloved family, his cycling buddies and many other friends, too many to name.

Whether it was buying a meal for the unhoused, giving to our local food banks, or just saying hello, Bob was all about being grateful and paying it forward. In the end, the stars aligned and Bob was able to donate three of his organs in his last act of giving.

We are grateful for the years we had with him and he will be greatly missed, but we will continue his legacy of giving.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to his favorite charity Tunnel to Towers at https://t2t.org/