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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '99
RICHARD ROBERT SANDOVAL * '46
No. 15412 * 24 Feb 1926 - 2 Aug 1995
Died in Albuquerque, NM * Inurned in Fairview Memorial Cemetery,
Albuquerque, NM. |
Known by his classmates as Sandy, Bob was the name
used throughout his life by family and friends. Born in Albuquerque,
NM, Bob early on displayed his interest in things intellectual.
He was an avid chess player and at home had a basement workshop
where he built model airplanes. Bob graduated from St. Mary's
High School in Albuquerque in 1943 and immediately fulfilled
a lifelong dream by gaining his appointment to West Point. He
joined the Class of 1946 on 1 July 1943.
Cadet life created few problems for Bob. His natural
intellect carried him easily through academics. He adapted to
the system with no difficulty. Classmate, Joe Warren, remembered:
"As a friend, he was loyal, cheerful and a pleasure to be
around. He took delight in being able to help if called upon."
Another classmate, Jerri Whittington recalled: "I remember
Bob being always friendly and pleasant to be around. He wasn't
shy, but he displayed a quiet and natural confidence that was
appealing. He was respected and liked by everyone." Bob
graduated a second lieutenant in the Artillery.
After basic schooling at Fort Sill, OK, Bob's first
assignment was with the 33rd FA Bn. in Germany. He returned to
Ft sill in 1950 assigned to the 529th FA Bn. The unit later went
to Karlsruhe, Germany. In 1953, Bob met Judith Kelly, a nurse
from Adelaide, Australia who was on a Grand Tour of Europe. Bob
and Judy were married in Karlsruhe 14 November 1953. From Germany,
the Sandoval's returned to the States where Bob was assigned
to teach Math at West Point. In 1960, he pulled a short tour
with the 38th Artillery in Korea. From Korea, Bob was selected
to attend UCLA where he received his Masters in Physics in 1964.
The Sandovals moved back to Ft. Sill where Bob commanded 3rd
Bn. 25th Arty. In 1966, he received orders to Vietnam where he
served as S3, II FFORCEV Arty. In 1967, Bob returned to the States
where he became Chief, Weapons Br., Livermore Labs, Livermore,
CA. He was selected to attend the Army War College in 1968, graduating
in 1969. His final assignment was as CO, Army Combat Developments
Command Nuclear Agency, Ft Bliss, TX. He retired in 1973 as a
Colonel.
Following retirement, Bob and Judy moved to Los
Alamos, NM where Bob was employed at the Los Alamos National
Laboratory. His beloved Judy died suddenly in 1987. Two years
later, he married Marjorie Farrell 8 November 1989 in Albuquerque,
NM. Bob retired from Los Alamos in 1991 and moved to Albuquerque.
One of the major interests in Bob's life was golf. After leaving
Los Alamos, he won several tournaments on the NM Senior Golf
Association circuit. In 1993, Bob was diagnosed with stomach
cancer. He died 2 August 1995. His wife, Marjorie, daughters,
Mary, Catherine, Barbara and Margaret; sons, Francis, James,
William and David and a sister, Fran, survive him.
His family and friends will long remember Bob Sandoval.
The traits that made him stand out in his professional life also
evoked fond remembrances from those that knew and loved him.
His brother in law, Peter Kelly wrote from Australia: "He
was much interested in philosophy. He thought deeply about things
below the surface of life. I think I can say that besides the
normal good qualities of honesty, intelligence, humor, etc.,
he had a personal interest in human events. This, of course,
was particularly true of his interest in his family and friends,
but not only of them. He was sensitive to human suffering. A
final note is his generosity. This was a warm boundless generosity
that we saw towards many others."
His sister, Fran, recalled: "When we were
children, Bob was my protector. He took that job seriously and
he was also my hero. I am the last of the Sandovals and I hope
I can meet death with the courage and dignity that Bob did. I
miss him every day of my life."
His children remembered: "He was an intellectual.
He loved a good discussion about physics, politics, religion,
football, current events. His depth of knowledge about a wide
range of topics was amazing. He was above all, unassuming and
non judgmental. He was conscientious in his personal and profession
life. He had no regrets. His acceptance and existentialism was
part of his life and death. We miss him."
Bob Sandoval was a true son of West Point. He forged
his life around the principles of Duty, Honor, Country. So, it
is most fitting for the Class of 1946 to add to the remembrances
of his family and friends, those words that would mean so much
to him: "Well Done, Bob; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project
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