Robert Raybould Wilkinson

Bob Wilkinson was born in 1926, after his mother, already in labor, rode the street car solo from San Mateo to San Francisco to give birth in a hospital. He spent his childhood in Southern California and the Montclair hills of Oakland, where his family survived the Great Depression with limited resources. Shortly after the end of World War II, Bob was drafted into the military. In 1949, he met elementary school teacher May-Blossom Chang, who he wooed with a dinner by campfire on the beach. They married in 1951 and had four children.

Bob earned a Masters in Social Work from UC Berkeley. In the early ‘60’s he started Children’s Protective Services in San Mateo County as the founding intake unit supervisor. One of his most memorable cases was a ten-year-old girl orphaned by the Jonestown Massacre in 1978, which he described with sensitivity for her circumstances and concern for her future in his memoir Sepia-Toned Archives.

A voracious reader, Bob had a keen eye for observation. His artistic pursuits included a penchant for poetry, humorous anecdotes, and compelling short stories that recounted moments of joy and curiosity about the world around him. Bob was a fine wood sculptor who shared his talents at artists’ open studio events on the Peninsula. He also volunteered teaching art to preschoolers. Some of the fun family activities Bob encouraged included making a mask every year that represented the Chinese New Year zodiac animal. During multiple Chinese New Year parties, the mask was worn as the new year chased out the old year.

Bob was a life-long nature enthusiast who loved walking in the woods and could identify hundreds of birds. He took his kids on many thoughtfully planned backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, rising early to fish, make a fire, and cook breakfast. He would bang his Sierra cup to awaken the family and announce that breakfast was served.

A dedicated family man, later in life Bob hosted family gatherings with a flair. He would send out rhyming invitations, cook an elaborate spread, and create age-appropriate puzzles, games, and treasure hunts. He often sent endearing, poetic thank you notes after a day with family.

Bob was concerned with social and environmental change. Over many decades, he focused his efforts on anti-war protest, environmental activism, and public art advocacy. As a result of his efforts and that of others, there are a number of public displays of art throughout San Mateo.

Bob is survived by four children, Steve, Sunya, Su-Lin, and Willy, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and extended family in California and beyond.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2-4pm at Crosby-N. Gray & Co. Funeral Home, 2 Park Rd., Burlingame, CA 94010. It will be Livestreamed.