Robert Daniel Nunes

When Hong Kong was attacked during World War II, Victor was captured as a prisoner of war. Carmen brought Roberto and his younger brother, Manuel, to live in nearby Macau, until it was safe to return home.

After returning to Hong Kong, Roberto attended La Salle College. He was an avid athlete and enjoyed spending time at Club Recreio, where he participated in all kinds of sports, ranging from badminton to hockey to softball to lawn bowling.

In 1957, at the age of 23, he left Hong Kong and set out for the United States in search of a better life.

He lived first in San Francisco and got a job with Beneficial Insurance before being transferred to Los Angeles, where he fell in love with his future wife, Yvonne.

They were married on July 6, 1963, at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church, across the street from where Yvonne had been living.

Not long after getting married, Roberto (now an American citizen known as "Robert") was asked to take a job in Orange County, California. As a result, in 1968 he moved to Yorba Linda with Yvonne and their two young sons, Brian and Michael. In Orange County the family continued to grow with the birth of two daughters, Anne and Denise.

Family was very important to Robert and Yvonne. In 1972, they helped Robert’s parents move to nearby Placentia where the extended family could frequently visit.

As generous and devoted Catholics, Robert and Yvonne made sure all their children received a good Catholic education and were always well provided for. Robert also continued his own education, eventually receiving an MBA from California Western University in 1976.

Robert worked in accounting and insurance his whole life, rising to the position of executive vice president at Leatherby Insurance. Eventually he left Leatherby to start his own insurance company with a business partner, and he continued working in the insurance business until his retirement.

After retiring, he returned to the sport of lawn bowling, rising quickly to the international level of competition. He represented the United States in places such as Australia and Canada. He happened to be in New York on 9/11, where he won his first of 3 National Championships.

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Robert also enjoyed playing mahjong with a group of friends who had also come to California from Hong Kong.

Robert and Yvonne enjoyed traveling, visiting England, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and particularly Canada.

Robert was very proud of his children and grandchildren and was always keenly interested in their activities and accomplishments, whether academic, athletic, professional, or personal.

Toward the end of his life, Robert battled several health issues including cancer. He finally succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 92, after spending two weeks in hospital and a few days at home on hospice care. He received great love and care from his family until he passed away peacefully the morning of June 7, 2026.

Robert is survived by his wife, Yvonne; his four children, Brian, Michael (Donna), Anne (William) and Denise (Jeremiah); and his four grandsons, Stephen, Andrew, Virgil and Jared.