Meet Robert
How long have you lived in the Bay Area?
I moved to the Bay Area in 1997.
How did you learn about Save Mount Diablo?
I learned about Save Mount Diablo when I became Executive Director of Cal State East Bay’s campus in Concord.
Save Mount Diablo hosted the annual Pearl Harbor Beacon lighting at the summit of Mount Diablo.
One year, I believe it was in 2013, it snowed at the summit, and it would have been extremely difficult for veterans participating in the ceremony, who were in their 80s and 90s, to make the journey.
Save Mount Diablo Board members contacted me and requested use of the campus as an alternate ceremony site. Of course we said yes, in spite of a very tight time table.
The ceremony was conducted in our largest lecture hall, and veterans activated the Beacon remotely from a site on the campus where they had an unobstructed view of the mountain.
When did you start volunteering with us, and why did you get involved?
After that first Beacon lighting, Save Mount Diablo decided to conduct the ceremony annually on the campus, and we happily partnered to make it happen.
From that point on, my staff and I worked on a number of collaborative efforts with Save Mount Diablo, and I decided to become a member. A few years later I was asked to join the Board of Directors (I think it was 2018 though not sure), and I’ve been there ever since.
Which Save Mount Diablo programs are you involved in?
I’m a member of the Board of Directors as well as the Board’s Executive Committee. I also chair Save Mount Diablo’s Education Committee, which is composed of a wonderful group of educators heralding from a number of institutions, from K-12 to community colleges and universities.
What do you enjoy about the volunteer work you do?
That’s easy: working with such dedicated people who believe wholeheartedly in the mission of our organization. Their passion is contagious!
What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on as a volunteer?
The pandemic. . . . participating in organizational meetings and organizational projects without ever seeing your colleagues was definitely the most challenging part of my time with Save Mount Diablo.
Is there a memorable experience you’ve had as a Save Mount Diablo volunteer?
I think the recent talk I did with Executive Director Ted Clement for Save Mount Diablo donors.
Discussing the history of my tribe and linking indigenous views of nature with the work we do here at Save Mount Diablo was both professionally and personally fulfilling. The audience was extremely engaged and dedicated to the cause of environmental conservation.
How do you spend your time beyond your volunteer work with us?
I am a retired administrator and Associate Professor of History at Cal State East Bay.
Currently, I spend my time assisting my son Aaron who suffers from a severe form of muscular dystrophy. In spite of his physical challenges, Aaron is now a junior in high school and has won multiple awards for his video production work.
Beyond that, I am actively involved in a number of projects with my tribe, the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. Our reservation is located in northern San Diego County. And of course there is my work with Save Mount Diablo, which I enjoy immensely.
