Mr. Robert "Bob" Edmund Saynay

A devoted and loving man who was an absolutely stellar example of an exceptional citizen; the apple of his mother's eye, Robert was Born on May 29th, 1930 in Chicago, IL to Edmund and Beatrice (Walz) Saynay. Bob peacefully passed on November 12, 2015 in Mckinney, TX with his wife Carole by his side, and loving family nearby. He was greeted in Heaven by his parents Edmund and Beatrice Saynay, his sister Shirley Doerr, and his first wife, Esther (Horka) Saynay.

Bob's Legacy for excellence, integrity, humility, generosity, compassion and hard work continue in the lives of his 7 children, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. They are as follows: Susan Wilson, (Children Megan Gonzales, Claire Wilson, Garet Wilson, Great-grandchildren: Kelton, Jace, Dominic, Brayden, Ava) Laura Saynay (child Philip), Carl Saynay (partner Lauri Sarillo), Marilyn Daniels (husband Dale) Children Paige, Zachary, and Morgan, Great- grandchildren Vida; and Carolyn Kennedy (husband Rod) Children: Brooke, Ethan, William, Kennedy, Ashley & Josiah; Diann Clark Rozsa (husband Greg) and Thomas Clark (wife Kristen).

Bob's wife, Carole, of McKinney, Texas, has asked that donations, in his honor, should be given to the Wounded Warriors Project. www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Bob will be honored by a private burial at Conejo Mountain Memorial Cemetery in Camarillo, CA.

Robert, “Bob”, enjoyed a successful and rewarding career characterized by his business acumen and skill-aided with ability, foresight and forward thinking, allowed him to be both a leader and trail blazer in the industry of Recycled Fibers. Long before recycling became "cool". Bob's efforts and skills as an insightful, fair-minded leader allowed him the opportunity to guide the company through growth and expansion that enriched the Camarillo and Oxnard communities, and helped maintain its presence during economic highs and lows. Bob, in his humble way, always made sure to attribute the company's success to the hard work and dedication of his employees; seeing them as team members who were the lifeblood of their company's success. He was fair, generous and well-loved both professionally and personally by this community.

Bob was responsible for enriching the local economy and community when he chose Camarillo as home to one of the city's first manufacturing plants. After scouting the area and determining that Ventura County would be a safe place for employees and their families, and that the area was ripe for growth, Bob was at the helm of the construction of Western Kraft's folding carton plant in 1969.

Bob was later named Regional Plant Manager for nearby Willamette Industries Paper Processing Facility on Hueneme Road in Oxnard. It was where he focused the majority of his career efforts. Known for "the world's fastest cylinder type paper making machine" that broke its own world records, Bob was instrumental in coordinating the expansion of this facility and in the replacement of the world's fastest machine with an even more efficient model in 1982. The revolutionary design included a co-generation DC engine that generated its own energy. A feat that allowed him to enjoy a visit to Japan to secure a contract with its manufacturer.

Bob served in the capacity of Corporate Recycled Fibers Manager, Resident Manager, Plant Manager Willamette Industries and Western Kraft Paper Group, based in Port Hueneme and Camarillo while managing a total of over 60 cardboard packaging plants across the US; Plant Manager of the Folding Carton Division in Los Angeles and Assistant to the VP Mead Corporation; in addition to experience as Personnel Manager, Project Analyst for the Container Corporation, based in Chicago, IL.

Bob was a community leader in several capacities as well during his "free time," finding himself unanimously appointed or encouraged to lead and serve in several organizations, some of which include;

Licensed Bond and Insurance Broker

Scuba Instructor/lifeguard YMCA

Lifetime Member Softball Association of America

Certified with a Power Boat License

Attended Law School

Graduate University of Illinois

Crpl. United States Army

Camarillo Chamber of Commerce Director

Director Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA)

Personnel Commissioner Pleasant Valley School District

Chairman of American Paper Institute Paper Conservation Committee West Coast

Member and Officer Various Church, Social, and Financial communities

Willamette Industries Political PAC Committee

Member Selective Service System

California Personnel Commissioner's Association

Personnel Commissioner Ventura County College District

Secretary for the Elks BPOE- as secretary, treasurer, Oxnard and Treasury and Secretary of the Thousand Oaks Chapters

Jury Foreman

Bob greatly enjoyed owning a wide variety of cars - (an homage from the son of a steel mill worker during the Depression era, who’s parents neither owned nor ever drove a vehicle). His cars included at least 3 Fords, 2 Chevy's, 2 Pontiac's, 3 Buick's, a Cadillac, a Lincoln, a DKW, a Honda, a Jaguar, a Rolls Royce, 2 Toyota's, 5 Mercedes, plus a Rambler, Chrysler, Dodge, and Mitsubishi. His photograph as an adorable two year old in his first car was published in the Old Cars magazine.

When not at work blazing trails or spending his off hours volunteering, Bob embraced a lifetime passion for softball, from childhood to senior, he could frequently be found on the baseball diamond leading a team to championships- enduring a broken arm (sliding into home plate) and a broken nose (hit square in the face). He still played while wearing a cast. His baseball bat was always nearby, sometimes used in an unconventional manner to send garden snails to the Great Beyond, or be put into service in other helpful ways around the house.

Additional hobbies included golf, swimming (a lane pool was a backyard essential), gardening-Bob maintained enviable lawns and landscape of his own design, and scuba diving (shells, coral and other treasures often enjoyed treasures on interior spaces). As a parent, he was involved in 4H; Bob had many epic tales of interactions with animals (horses, steer, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, and more). He enjoyed sharing how he once ended up flat on his back on the floor of a pig pen surrounded by excited snouts in the dead of night.

Bob was a willing and creative participant in various parades, camp outs, and activities with Camp Fire, and Cub Scouts. He was affiliated with the Catholic and Methodist Churches and it wasn't unusual to find him flipping pancakes for the masses, manning a goldfish toss booth at community festivals, or willingly being sunk in an ice cold dunk tank. Whether persuaded to perform in a Native American Headdress, or appear as the "three-lunged Hawaiian diver to entertain crowds of amazed summer crowds, Bob loved it all. The Elks Clubs of Thousand Oaks and Oxnard benefitted from his participation as both a treasurer and secretary.

A gifted writer with "a flair for words", Bob often penned letters to the Editor, Congress, Governors, and even celebrity, Steve Allen.

Bob was a generous and selfless giver, with a can-do attitude and belief that hard work pays off. He put himself through school working a myriad of odd jobs such as unloading a coffee bean rail car, and performing as bail bondsman. His bail bonds career played out like a movie against a gritty backdrop of South Chicago with brother-in-law and best friend Dick Horka as his "partner in crime."

Bob possessed a fantastic sense of humor, was both giver and receiver of jokes and lighthearted pranks, with a wide grin and a delightful "twinkle" in his eyes. He was well loved and will be truly and dearly missed by his large and loving family.