Robert James Shimer

On May 15, 2021, in Sacramento, CA, Robert (Bob) J. Shimer passed away peacefully at home, at age 90.  Bob is survived by his life partner of 48 years, Betty K. Louie. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to William M. Shimer and Dorothy MacFarland, Bob was predeceased by his older brother, also named William M. Shimer. 

Although born in Brooklyn, Bob grew up in Lockport, NY. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in forestry from State University of New York at Syracuse, Bob became a licensed forester. As a forester, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. One of his happiest times was when he lived in Whitehall, Montana, while working for BLM. He also worked for the Chama Land and Cattle Company in New Mexico. Bob was the first state forester in Alaska, when it became a state in 1959. Later, Bob worked in California for the Board of Equalization in Redding, Department of Water Resources in Los Angeles, and finally the State Lands Commission in Sacramento. After retiring from State service, Bob started his own business as a licensed forester specializing in timber and forest land appraisals, and did work for Department of General Services and Caltrans as a retired annuitant. 

Bob was a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Red Jacket Lodge (Masons) in Lockport, NY. For a time, he was also a member of the E Clampus Vitus. He was an elm tree monitor for the Sacramento Tree Foundation, reporting on any diseased elms he saw during his walks.

Bob loved being outdoors and hiking in the woods. He went backpacking alone into the Bob Marsh Wilderness in Montana because it was something he had always wanted to do. He loved being away from city lights so he could see the stars in the night sky. 

Bob and Betty went to Germany, Austria and Switzerland because Bob was interested in his German ancestors, and similarly to Scotland for his Scottish ancestry. They went many times to France. They traveled to Patagonia, including Tierra del Fuego, in Argentina. They went to Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec in Canada. They went to Alaska to revisit all the places where Bob had worked as a forester. They made several trips to Montana and loved going to Yellowstone.

Bob and Betty took trips to New Mexico, including the International Hot Air Balloon festival in Albuquerque. Bob also was interested in the culture of the Zuni, thanks to his dear friend, Robert Dosedo (now deceased), from Zuni Pueblo. Bob would visit the Pueblo on his trips to New Mexico.

Bob and Betty went to many National Parks in the Southwest, and went to Florida and Key West. They enjoyed going to New York City, spent time in the Adirondacks, and visited Bob’s hometown of Lockport several times, along with surrounding areas in upstate New York.

For a time, Bob had an apartment in San Francisco where he went on weekends. He was a member of the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco and attended the SF Symphony. Bob loved percussion, piano music (classical and jazz), classical Spanish guitar, and the music of Leon Redbone. He liked Laurel and Hardy. He enjoyed reading books by T. Coraghessan Boyle and Carolyn Chute, and enjoyed reading maps. He studied German language and Pennsylvania German history. He enjoyed art museums and galleries and just hanging out in San Francisco.

Bob was a pretty good cook and contributed one of his well liked recipes, which he named Bomb With Bob’s Beans, to the State Lands cookbook. But he liked nothing better than a good loaf of crusty bread and butter.

Bob liked to go running, and would run 5 miles a day, and more on the weekends in San Francisco. He ran the Bay to Breakers race twice, and other foot races in San Francisco. After retiring, Bob rode his bike every day on the American River Bike trail.

Bob had quite a hat collection, and almost always had one on his head. He loved his white Ford pickup truck. He had an offbeat sense of humor that would make you laugh because you had never looked at things quite the way he did. Sometimes he would burst into song, singing some little ditty. Other times he would recite a favorite poem he had memorized. He was a kind and caring person, always jumping in to help anybody who needed it.

In addition to his life partner, Betty, Bob leaves cousins and many friends.  Bob will be interred at Cold Springs Cemetery in Lockport NY. There are no services planned at this time, but please keep good memories of Robert J. Shimer in your heart.