Rob, 70, died June 7, 2022, in McCall, Idaho, from complications of cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer. He was born January 13, 1952, in Inglewood, California, and grew up in California, Germany, and Florida as his father was a test pilot for the USAF. Rob graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Marine Biology and worked in Hawaii and American Samoa before earning a degree in Forestry from Oregon State University. He then began a 30-year career in wildland fire. He jumped at McCall 1989-2005 before working as Assistant FMO for the McCall Ranger District until his recent retirement. Rob married fellow smokejumper Karen Dorris (GAC-89) in 1993 and they became the first married couple to jump a fire on the Payette NF in 1995.

Rob excelled in outdoor sports, mountain biking, surfing, rock climbing, and skate skiing. He would continue to bicycle long distances to and from his cancer treatments at the Mayo Clinic. “He truly loved and valued the ‘magic of life,’ recognizing the contradiction of living a full life while also accepting its uncertainties.” Rob’s favor quote was, “What cannot be remedied must be endured.”