Robert Martin St. Pierre

Bobby St. Pierre’s earthbound journey came to a peaceful end on June 4, 2011, cradled in the loving arms of his wife Vicky and children Caitlin and Patrick. The calmness of his passing was in stark contrast to the fierce battle he waged against multiple myeloma cancer for the past 15 months.

Bobby lived a fabulously successful life, a true renaissance man of integrity, perception, wit, and unabashed love. His greatest gift was an appreciation for every day, every single blessing, and the gift of helping those around him savor and sanctify every moment.

Robert Martin St. Pierre was born January 25, 1954, just outside Chicago, Illinois, to Robert Mark and Mary Kathryn St. Pierre, joining older brothers Mark and Rick. The family moved repeatedly, chasing the American dream, with Bobby soaking up the cultural diversity of Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Texas and California. Along the way he welcomed 3 more brothers, Ron, Michael, and Danny, and the 6 boys forged impenetrable bonds that wind through each others’ lives and extended families to this day.

Bobby attended Holy Cross High School in Austin but graduated from La Serna High School in Whittier, Ca. During this time he began to form some of the enduring friendships that lasted a lifetime, friendships that grew richer throughout the wisdom of decades.

His first college experience was at University of California at Irvine, where he minored in surfing from his Balboa Island flat. When his family bounced back to Texas, Bob followed and soon after graduated from UT Austin in 1976 with a BA in biology. Bobby so loved the open and generous heart of Austin back then, working here and there so he could enjoy the city’s music, culture, food and friends. A trip to the California mountains turned in to an extended stay and a new troupe of comrades at the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park. Bob drank in every new experience as a spiritual elixir.

The seasonal work at Wawona always remained a special time in Bob’s life, but soon he found himself back in Texas. He returned to UT and earned a Master’s degree in Deaf Education. Bobby embarked on a teaching career at the Texas School for the Deaf, where his talent for instinctive and eloquent communication blossomed, inhaled through the eyes of his students.

His destiny brought him to the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, where he encountered his life’s epochal moment upon meeting a fellow instructor at CSD, Vicky Bryant.

Bobby and Vicky were married in California in 1987. Her parents, sister and brothers were immediately woven into the tapestry of Bob and Vic’s life together, and the St. Pierre circle widened to embrace all the Bryants. Bobby and Vicky were blessed in California with daughter Caitlin in 1989. Fatherhood brought Bobby both a peace and an energy never before encountered. He was born for it, drawn to it, and thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of being a Dad.

The trio moved to Austin to raise their daughter Texas-style and be closer to Bob’s family, and they welcomed son Patrick to the circle in 1991. Putting down roots in Circle C Ranch, Bob and Vic joyously raised their family, cheerleading at countless sports tournaments and arts recitals, turning neighbors into the dearest of friends, and welcoming each day with gratitude and wonder. As Vicky passed wave after wave of young students through her classrooms at AISD, Bobby created a successful business making window coverings and shutters. Bobby relished his friends, career, sports, and travel, but most of all the simple, timeless act of family life.

Bobby’s soul is joined once again, forever, with his departed mother Mary Kathryn St. Pierre and sister-in-law, Donna St. Pierre. He is survived by his wife Vicky and children Caitlin and Patrick of Austin, father Bob St. Pierre and wife Betty of Georgetown, Texas, in-laws Harry and Marie Bryant of Palm Desert, California. His brothers Mark, Rick and Ron still live in Texas, while Michael is in St. Louis and Danny is in LA. Bobby’s sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and adoring nephews and nieces on both the St. Pierre and the Bryant sides were blessed with his tender caring ways. He treated each one as an individual, as a gift, a jewel, as his own. Each will carry his loving influence forward and spread it to others as selflessly as Bobby shared it with them.

Bobby had so many deep and precious friendships that they are too numerous and scattered to recount; they know who they are, and each person cherishes unique memories of Bobby adventures and insights.

The family would like to acknowledge the compassionate care provided by Dr. Punit Chadha and the staff at Texas Oncology, who treated Bobby like a member of their own family.

Charitable donations in Bobby’s memory may be made to the Caring Bridge (http://www.caringbridge.org) or to the cancer research foundation of your choice.

Bobby – father, son, husband, brother, friend, teacher, searcher, uncle, student, pioneer, shaman, sportsman, traveler, minstrel, comic – your shining spirit lives in the hearts of all of those you touched.

Bobby played many roles in his life, but as a father he truly, finally found his essence, the means to reveal himself, to express himself, to convey his joy, love and faith not only to Caitlin and Patrick but to everyone he met.