Robert Harrison Barber passed away peacefully on July 29, 2017 surrounded by his loving friends at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, CA. The memorial will be held on August 10, 2017 at 10am in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma, CA. Rob was born December 7th, 1963 in Watertown, NY to Wayne and Patricia Barber.
Rob graduated from Immaculate Heart Central High School in 1982 and continued his education at Cornell University. In 1986 he graduated with a BS in Applied and Engineering Physics and in 1987, an MS in Electrical Engineering. After graduating from Cornell, he headed out west to Fremont, California where he started work as an engineer at National Semiconductor. At night, he took courses at San Jose State University and graduated with an MBA. His career led him to Linear Technology, where he served as Director of US Operations, introducing efficient manufacturing processes such as 5S and TPM, and boosting production at its fabrication plants, before retiring.
Rob had many accomplishments and hobbies. He founded a yoga studio, Breathe Together Yoga, in Los Gatos CA, and offered free classes to cancer patients as a way to give back to the community. He was an entrepreneur and acted as an angel investor to a start-up. His hobbies included flying gliders, sailing, scuba diving, photography, music, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Rob continued to live life to the fullest while battling a rare genetic disease with grace, dignity, determination, and strength. He is preceded in death by his mother, Pat, and wife, Melissa Wong. Rob is survived by his father, Wayne Barber of Watertown, NY, and his sister, Leanne Barber of Nashua, NH.
The Robert H. Barber Memorial Fund has been set up at Mayo Clinic. The family requests that memorial gifts be designated to Amyloidosis Research. All donations made that include his name in the “in memorial” or “in honor” of section will be contributed towards this research. The donation website link: https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/