I grew up moving from Coalinga to Hanford, to San Jose, back to Hanford, then to Fresno, then on to Stockton, but I finally settled in Modesto for almost 7 years, which I came to call home.
I fell in love with football and I started my career at the young age of 10 with my first year of Pop Warner. I didn't get to play much this year and of course I was bumbed out. But, the next year when I was 11, I came back hard and strong playing linebacker. My coaches told me that I was their best player and that I played like an animal. I really liked to crack the other players, and I liked to be cracked back. That year I made 60% of all the tackles to stop the ball. Unfortunately, during one of my games, I broke my finger and had a cast that took me out for many games. It wasn’t until my Freshman year playing linebacker at Beyer High School that I went at it again. It was during practice that I tore a tendon in my ankle and I was out so many weeks that I didn’t continue to play. I tried again my Sophomore year at Beyer as a linebacker again, but this time I broke my left hand thumb all the way through and had to have a pin put in it, which again took me out for the season. Mom wanted me to be the quarterback because I had a really good left throwing arm and I was fast and could read the field well and get the ball out. But, I liked the rough physical contact more and I always wanted to stick people and stick them hard, in a good sportsmanship kind of way.
I would always tease my sisters Mindy and Monet and my Mom about this. I would pretend to take a line up stance then I would come running at them fast and act like I was going to put a hard hit move on them and bring them down. They always laughed at me and said, “you better not”.
This is what I loved to do, play football. My Junior year at Beyer I didn’t go out and play.
I have to go back in time so that I can talk about dirt bikes. I was 8 years old when I fell in love with dirt bikes. I just let into my Dad about wanting a dirt bike. I didn’t stop until I got my first one around the age of 10. It was a 125 TTR and you couldn’t get me to stop talking about my 125 TTR. That was the beginning of the end because nothing was ever too big or too fast for me. But, soon enough I knew that this was not the thrill that I was looking for. Over a year later I got a 80 2 stroke bike that was built to be a 125 2 stroke. I still wanted more thrill, so I got a 250 WR trail bike. This bike had some power, but no guts like a 2 stroke. One day while living in Hanford I found a 250 2 stroke. I turned in my 80 and 250 trail bikes and got my 250 2 stroke. This was my baby, and oh did it take me for a ride.
One day I was thinking about what I liked more, football or dirt bikes, and dirt bikes beat out football by a nose.
There were other adventures that I really really liked. Roller coasters was one of them. Six Flags had this 3 sided cable rocket like ride where a person had 4 different choices on how to strap themselves in. Guess what me and my Dad chose? We chose the harness that straps you at your hips only. This means that me and my Dad could lean over like a bird and spread all four limbs out. We were shot up into the air over 100 feet, and boy did me and my Dad spread our arms & legs and wiggle ourselves like crazy, as my family from below watched us.
I liked so many things. I tried parasailing, water skiing, I got certified along with my Dad for scuba diving and we swam with the sharks while on vacation. I became a pretty good skate boarder, my uncle Mike taught me how t play Cribbege. I was taught how to gamble, I mean, play poker. My Grandpa Sal would take me out to the golf course to hit balls. I would come home and tell my family that I smoked some pretty good ones that went far. It was frustrating a lot of the time cause I just couldn’t keep the ball going in the direction that I wanted it to. Yes, I liked to keep physically busy constantally.
I really loved mechanical things and how to weld. I made my Mother a rose out of metal. I was actually good at these things. I always worked on my dirt bike and motorized scooter that I had. I definitely liked to keep busy and I for sure loved speed.
I really love people. When my friends needed clothing or food, I would give what I had of my personal belongings. With tears in my eyes I would ask my Mother to buy some food for my friends that had less than me. I was concerned for my friends physical needs, but I was also concerned about how they were feeling on the inside. I used to come home and tell my Mom what was going on in my friends lives and we would talk about it. I am a compassionate guy and cared deeply for people even though I showed it in my own way. I just wanted you to know more about the real me.
Well, I really loved people, but I loved my animals too. We have a Rag Doll cat that is suppose to be really laid back, but I roughed him up, in a good way, that he himself can be a little hard to handle at times, I wonder why? Ha, ha. I loved my dog named Shaggy, and boy, he was truly shaggy. We had great times together. He looked like a stout weight lifter. My Sister Mindy has a York Shire Terrior that I would always put underneath my shirt and not let her go. She would always yap about that to me.
Well, you definitely have a better picture of who I am.
I attended Beyer High School my Freshman, Sophomore and 8 months out of 10 months of my Junior year. My last 2 months of my Junior year I moved to Hanford and started school as a Husky and graduated my Senior year as a Husky.
I am survived by my Father Robert, my Mother Cindy, my Older Sisters Mindy and Monet my Grandfather Sal, my Grandmother Gaylia, my Grandfather Nick and my Grandmother Sylvia. My Grandmother Betty preceded me and she will be taking care of me with that one index finger that she points at you.
I’d always pull my family into my adventures with me. I’m going to miss the people that I am saying “see you later to”, for now. My Dad Robert who would always try+ to keep up with me, my Mom who babied me, my Older Sister Sissy Mindy, and my Little Big Sister Monet.
I had an adventurous life while I was alive and each and every one of you and more were part of my life. God blessed me with a family who loved me deeply and taught me what it was to make the small things matter most.
Until I see all of you again, please take all of the hugs and kisses that I have for all of you. I want all of you to have happiness, peace and joy. I love all of you! Robbie…
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