In Memory

Robert Eugene Long - Class Of 1944

Robert Eugene Long

Robert E 'Bob' Long passed away from lung cancer on July 19, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Grace Long; son Bob Long Jr; and sister Betty Flippen (SPHS '47).

Bob was born in South Pasadena on December 10, 1926 to Henry and Modgeska Long. The family lived in the Arroyo Seco neighborhood, later moving to Meridian Avenue before settling on Marengo Avenue. Bob attended Marengo Elementary School and South Pasadena-San Marino High School, graduating in 1944.

Bob entered the US Navy Aviation Cadet Program and was sent to the College of the Pacific for one year, followed by pre-flight at St. Mary's College in Maryland and primary flight training in Glenview, Illinois. After intermediate flight school in Corpus Christi, Texas, he was transferred to Pensacola, Florida, where he received his wings in 1947. He flew the F6F Hellcat in Jacksonville, Florida before assignment to fly the F8F Bearcat with Air Group 13 in North Island, California aboard the USS Princeton. After a tour of Hawaii, Guam, Japan, and Tsingtao, China, Bob completed his five years of service and was separated in July 1949. He remained in the Naval Reserve and retired after 21 years of service.

Bob graduated cum laude in 1952 from Claremont Men's College and worked with the Insurance Company of North America while completing night school at Southwestern University in 1965. He was admitted to practice in January 1966 and subsequently practiced as a trial lawyer in Los Angeles and Glendale.

Bob served as executive director of the California Soldiers' Widows Home Association for 20 years, was president of the Westwood Bar Association, the Wilshire Town Club, and the Claremont McKenna College Alumni Association (1969-70), and was on the boards of the LaCanada Flintridge Republican Club, the Glendale Bar Association, and Claremont McKenna College, where he served as an alumnus trustee of the College and participated in the CMC Alumni Association for 50 years. He belonged to the LaCanada Flintridge Country Club and wrote monthly notes for its Super Senior tennis group. He also was a member of Tigers '44, his South Pasadena-San Marino High School reunion committee. Bob was a recipient of the CMC Alumni Association's Jack Stark '57 Distinguished Service Award and the Eugene L Wolver, Jr '51 Lifetime Service Award. He also was the long-time 'scribe' for the CMC Classes of 1951 and 1952, for which he received the 'Class Liaison of the Year' award in 2011.

Bob married the former Grace Quitasol in September 1999 and they enjoyed many happy years of travel and their life together in Glendale. Bob's pet beagle, Ulysses, was a faithful companion.