This message comes long after Bob passed. I had not known about this website and where and I could write a brief message. I considered Bob a dear friend and spent many hours hiking and riding mountain bikes together. I also was an investigator for Bob for trial preparation. I appreciated his dry wet and amazing sense of humor. Although it has been a good deal of time since his passing, I think of him often and miss him dearly. In our last phone conversation, which was just a week or two before his passing, he said something I’ve never heard him say before and I caught it back. He told me that he love me. 

My memories with Bob while a young associate at Latham are among the most noteworthy and memorable of my entire legal career. I can say without any reservation that the following statement from the beautiful obituary is absolutely true: "Though he was demanding, many young associates loved working for Bob because he gave them extensive courtroom and deposition experience, usually not possible for young attorneys at a large firm."

In a month-long jury trial that I second-chaired with Bob, he let me examine three witnesses, and gave me plenty of tips and tricks of what to do. I never worked so hard in my life, but it was thrilling. Watching him during cross examination was truly something out of the movies (and even better than most movies). That trial (which we won) is still the highlight of my legal career, 16 years in. 

I also distinctly recall showing up to a hearing with Bob, and with no prior warning that I would be handling oral argument, he turned to me and said: "you wanna argue this one?" Luckily, I had been warned by other young partners who grew up with Bob that he does this regularly, so I went in prepared. 

He was the type of guy to throw you in the deep end of the pool so you'd learn to swim quickly, and I'm so grateful for that. 

Bob: you are missed, but my memories with you will stay with me forever.

-Seena Max Samimi

What a moving obituary. I had the opportunity to live on the same street as the Crockett family when younger. I didn’t personally get to know Bob as well as many others had, but thought I’d share the last communication I had with him. It seems like not too many months ago that he had been attending my ward at church for a few weeks. I finally went up to him after the service one Sunday and said something like, “Hi, do you remember me, … Jamie?” Thinking it would take him a minute to recognize me as our paths rarely crossed. It took him not even a second to say, “Of course I remember you, Jamie!”…And he gave me a big hug. It made me feel special. I have no doubt he was an amazing father and grandfather. I’m saddened for his family.  Wishing the memories of your loved one gets you through this incredibly hard time. Many people thought the world of him.

I learned so much during the years I worked with Bob. He gave me good advice when I needed it. He taught me, through example, about being a consummate professional. My fondest memory is when I went back to work for him as a senior attorney. We were arguing over the meaning of a document and were both tugging on the same piece of paper while yelling. I love that moment because I knew then that he saw me as a professional equal and that he respected me. He did not give out compliments easily, so when you finally got one, it really meant something. I will miss Bob and am so grateful for everything he taught me. I'm not sure I'll ever see a bag of M&Ms without thinking of him. My thoughts go out to his wife, children, grandchildren, and everyone else whose life he touched. 

When I think of Bob, and ponder his remarkable life, many memories come to mind. He was an outstanding attorney, a great partner and powerful trial lawyer. He was an articulate defender of the faith, and gifted writer. He was an amazing writer and athlete, who loved and embraced the Lord's outdoors in so many ways. He found joy in many things – most of all in and with, his family. He followed the Savior as Bob “went about doing good,“ quietly and almost always anonymously helping those whose hands hung low. He had an unusual sense of humor that was always worth it for his smile and laughter they capped whatever he shared. He enjoyed an eclectic mix of music.  With all that said, to me, Bob was and is my great friend. Our last photo together is posted below from the end of February. Simply, Bob is my friend. Always there. I miss him and look forward to being with him again that bright day.

Please count me among the young Latham & Watkins associates who loved working for Bob.  I worked for Bob from 1997 through 2001, in some crazy cases,  and  we stayed in touch afterwards.   I founded my own law firm with my wife, Lara, not long before Bob retired from Latham.  At the time of his passing, I was co-counsel with Bob in a hotly-contested Hawaiian arbitration.  Yesterday, Chase (one of Bob's associates) and I finished a two-day hearing in the case; I like to think of as "Bob's last trial."  We gave it our all, Bob, and I like to think you would have been proud.

Bob was a former law student of my father's, and I was the beneficiary of his affection for my father, as Bob always treated me with great kindness. When we bought our first home and moved out of Bob's ward, he took time to visit our new home and celebrate that milestone with us. Bob was also a fierce competitor. I once competed in a Boy Scout triathlon with Bob, and I was feeling good about leading a few of my friends in the race until Bob, twenty years my senior, came flying out of nowhere and blew past me on his bike. There was no way I could catch him, he was so fast! I loved discussing ideas with Bob. He was a brilliant, independent thinker, and over time, I found my own evaluation of lived experience pulling me toward conclusions on which he was already long settled on a number of issues. Bob was quietly generous. I know of mutual friends who unexpectedly found themselves homeless, and Bob gave them a place to stay with no fanfare. Bob is one of my heroes for the way he endured disappointments without letting them make him bitter. I was so sad to hear about his cancer diagnosis, and I admired the courage with which he faced it. I loved Bob, and I will miss him.

Bob’s life speaks for itself. If you knew him, you were given a glimpse into his brilliant mind, his fierce love and devotion to family, and  a do it right or don’t do it at all mentality. Our last conversation was about how to make a hitch for the Porsche so he could transport his bike. Like so many far more important things he figured it out and it was ready to go. A fighter to the end. I love him for his wonderful example and influence in my life. He loved his family and he expressed his love and deepest hope that they would always know that. I don’t have the ability to describe this one of a kind dynamic warrior. He fought an honorable fight and has earned a rest.  Thank you Bob. We will catch up eventually, but you’ve never made that easy. I love you Bob. I rest my case.

Bob told me and others in our bike riding group that if I ever beat him up the hill he would throw his bike off the mountain. Well I beat him a couple of times and was happy to see that he didn’t after all, throw his bike off the mountain.  He loved to tell tell us the same jokes over and over. We would all remind him of this and laugh. Did you know he was awarded the Cy Young award in the MLB? Hehe. 

As Elder Crockett's Mission President, I'd like to add a tribute to these accolades:  Bob was an exemplary and dedicated missionary.  He would always go the extra mile to magnify his calling.  For example, when he and his companion were assigned to the New Holland area of Southern Chicago, they prepared themselves to learn all they could about the Dutch Reformed Church.  This allowed them to teach with knowledge and power.  They met with great success and were twice awarded the month's honors of being the leading Elders in the whole mission of Illinois over a 6 month time period.  Elder Bob Crockett was focused, obedient and dynamic in his assignments.  He had enthusiasm and yet was humble in his accomplishments.  What a spring board to his post- mission life of high success.  Neil P. Christenson

My own acquaintance with Brother Crockett was limited to occasional, brief on-line exchanges.  The tribute in his obituary makes me wish our acquaintance had been more extensive. 
 

Of course, nothing really can salve the wounds inflicted by his untimely passing.  Still, it is worth remembering that for every seemingly-untimely separation that occurs on this side of the veil, there is at least one joyous reunion that occurs on the other side of the veil.  This passage from the obituary caught my eye: 


"Bob's father died from an aneurysm when Bob was 6 years old. Bob missed his daddy and often wondered what it would have been like to have a father around as a young boy."


Surely, THAT was a happy reunion, and, now, decades of lost time are now being made up for!  All the same, sincere condolences to those left on this side of the veil.


Sincerely yours,


-Ken K. Gourdin

OBITUARY

Robert Dale Crockett

November 29, 1954 – March 19, 2022

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