A wonderful brother. I will miss him greatly. Longer obituary in the Stories on this website. - James
Robert was a business partner and a true friend. He was a ceaseless engineer with a curiosity to match.
One of my favorite memories of Robert and his beloved dogs was when he would open up a can of Vienna sausages and all dogs would sit patiently around him, even my grumpy beagle who doesn’t share treats very well. Robert would go round robin, giving every dog a treat until the can was empty. They all seemed to bond during this time and were happy sharing this moment.
Robert and family were a sounding board and my stability when I lived in Sitka. The house was always openhearted and warm. Robert always welcomed me, while teaching me things about engineering and green apple liqueur. I always enjoyed the way Robert would speak about his loved ones, including the pups. Robert’s priorities of being with April, the Tortuga, and the pups, as well as his family and friends always showed in his personality and actions.
I haven’t lived in Sitka for almost ten years, and my definition of Sitka includes Robert and his family. I have always appreciated knowing Robert and have many memories that I cherish. One of my favorite photos in Sitka is one that Robert took of my dog sitting in blueberry bushes in the fall. The photo always reminds me of Robert and I always smile when I see it.
Robert was a remarkable man he was a sought after consultant. A great story tell. A wonderful cook. He loved being on the ocean when time allowed with his beloved April. He had a special place in his heart for our 4 legged angels. He would give them homes or find good homes for them. We were one of the families that received one of these pups. He will be missed by all much love to April
I met the Dryden family back in the 60tys while they were living here in Fairbanks. David Dryden deceased brother to Robert introduced me to his family members.All of the Drydens were very intelligent that i do remember and the mom and dad were so nice.and pleasant . Their families home was located almost across from where the Big Dipper sits today. Great family.
This is from Alan Barber
Lifelong friend of Robert
Robert
Random thoughts as I think about our sixty-five years of friendship….
“Nothing could be shittier than to find yourself in Whittier in the mooooorning.” -Mr. Whitekeys, Fly-By-Night Club, Spenard. I still use it singing in the shower.
Here’s one of the saddest days I remember. I dropped you off at the Oakland Armory in the middle of the night to catch your military flight to the badlands of Asia. You wouldn’t tell me your destination or purpose. I wish I had known. What great stories to tell all our friends. “Robert vaporized. We can’t say how”.
One of the sweetest sounds I remember is of Ludwig’s Evinrude (or was it a Johnson) cranking to life at the Army’s Family Camp at Birch Lake. You guys scared the crap out of me when you let me slowly sink into the lake on the end of the tow rope. Those soldiers were angry and you were howling with laughter as we headed home with my bare butt hanging in the breeze. Very funny.
You may remember the odd things I could do when I was working late at Doc Westin’s office….like when I took an x-ray of my hand flashing the bird. I was so proud of that photo of a bony hand displaying an obscene gesture that I showed it all around school. The guys thought it was funny. (Remember, this was high school.)
Weston’s office was a gold mine of naughtiness for me. That’s where the Crown Royal whiskey, source of multiple humorous episodes came from….the night spent in the Field Day trailer attempting to get drunk. We failed—at least I did—and the next morning we threw the whiskey bottle as far into the bushes and deep snow as we could. Good riddance. Of course, one or two days later we could be seen rummaging around in the deep snow, trying to find it.
Speaking of naughtiness, there was that note, either to or from you that contained the word “fuck” embedded somewhere in it. You carelessly left it around the house and were convinced your mother had read it and would scold or punish you or one of us. We were so naive. We believed that mothers would be shocked by such language from a high school boy.
On a tamer subject, do you recall us towing your boat to Whittier from Anchorage when the trailer lost a wheel? The wheel and tire arced high into the sky, landing far in the bushes much like the aforementioned Crown Royal. Except further. You got the unenviable task of calling Audrey, who was just settling in to a hot bath, to ask her to deliver a wheel and tire from the garage. Amazingly, she showed up a couple of hours later and was not furious—despite what you say about her—and dropped off the tire and headed home. We considered what a fine wife you had; and figured we had dodged a bullet.
Among my pleasant memories is our four day hike across Portage Pass. We got a late start due to laziness and the drive from Anchorage. On the second day we got an even later start and by the fourth day we were arising at dusk and stopping in the morning. We drove to the nearest bar, sat at the counter while others had ham and eggs, and ordered two cold ones to celebrate. I’m sure we looked depraved. But remember….this was old Alaska.
These random bits of detritus appear unbidden from time to time. How about you? Do you have any favorite recollections from our misspent youth? Let’s hear them.
Alan
