I just saw this message.  So sorry to hear about Bobbie’s passing.  I had the pleasure of working with her at Agilent in Santa Clara.  She was an incredible friend and coworker.  

She will be missed.  I’m so sorry for your loss.

Judy

I worked with Bobbie at Hewlett-Packard for over 20 years. She was one of my favorite coworkers. Her pleasant demeanor was welcoming and I felt that she heard what I was saying and that she cared.
After I retired, as each major Jewish holiday approached, I looked forward to receiving a card from her. She never missed.
Bobbie  was a good friend and I miss her. She was special.

My 30-year plus friendship with Bobbie began when I started as a somewhat-shy newbie at the Santa Clara Division of HP.  As was her way, she welcomed me in her friendly style, introducing me to others and including me in functions.  I will always be grateful for her sweet treatment of me.

Our friendship grew over the years.   While at HP,  we started our routine of meeting weekly for lunch, if schedules allowed.  Our little foursome also included Peggy Maine and Erin Nishimura.  It was a time to catch up on our lives, discuss how we could improve HP and what we thought could be done about the world situation.

As each of us slowly left HP and moved on to the next phase of our lives,  our luncheons continued, always spearheaded by Bobbie.  She saw to it that our group was kept together.  These luncheons were an important part of my life - a connection to a pleasant past and fond memories of good friends - and Bobbie knew that.

Sadly, we lost Peggy in 2008, but we tried to continue the tradition.  As the years passed, however, our get-togethers became less frequent.  We stayed in touch through phone calls and letters and the occasional luncheon.  I truly enjoyed her letters, always upbeat and with glowing comments about her family.  

When she talked to you, Bobbie had a way of making you feel that you, and what you had to say, were the most important things to her.  Her way of saying "Sandy" when I called, brought me such happiness.  But that was Bobbie - she had a way of making you feel that at that moment in time, she was truly delighted in hearing from you and her focus was only on you.

So many things to miss without my dear friend, Bobbie.  Her happy, cheerful, upbeat manner; her sincere thoughtfulness; her love of family; her love of God; her love of her Country.  A truly special, special person.

With love,
Sandy

For most of Bobbie's 40 years (!) at Hewlett-Packard I had the honor of working with her, enjoying her happy demeanor and learning from her intuitive understanding of "right" and "wrong."  She was also the faithful, non-playing supporter of our ragtag "Over the Hill" gang of Santa Clara Division softball players, ignoring our many errors, sharing the joy of our occasional wins, and deeming me the "Roadrunner" (in those days, I could run fast).

In our retirement years our friendship grew, as Bobbie, Bobbi Mendenhall, my wife (Barbara), and I would meet quarterly for lunch to share reminiscences and laughs, and comment on the world.  Now, Bobbie and Bobbi are both gone, leaving Barbara and me with countless memories of good times.  We miss them both.

OBITUARY

Roberta Barbarito Fertig

May 2, 1934 – June 22, 2021

Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary

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