Robert Seely
Personal
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: April 29, 1933
Date of Death: December 5, 2012
Birth Place: San Mateo, CA
Death Place: Scotts Valley, CA
Robert Seely
Det. Lt. Robert (Bob) Seely, (Police-Fire)
April 29, 1933 – December 5, 2012
Resident of Scotts Valley
Robert “Bob” Seely was a retired police officer from Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Born in San Mateo (4-29-33) and raised in San Carlos, he was son of the late retired San Carlos Police Chief George P. Seely and Lucille Sowle Seely. He was very close with his loving sister Sandra Seely Weissel, and her partner Don Fosse, who reside in Mendocino.
At age 13 Bob was awarded his Eagle Scout Badge, Troop 151, San Carlos. At 14 he was an avid scull boat duck hunter, selling ducks to a local butcher for $1.00 a duck, which helped pay for his 1929 model “A” Ford. He kept a lawn mower in the car’s open rumble seat while driving to and from Sequoia High School, where he would spot a home in need of a mowing. A dollar a mow paid for his gas.
Bob graduated June 1951 and the next day entered the U.S. Navy; Company 595, USNTC. On a four year enlistment, he served 3 plus years sea duty. He served 2 years in the Submarine Force Pacific and two years on the U.S. Navy China Station (known as the “Star 40”). The base was an anchorage between Hong Kong and Macao. Bob was a Sr. Yeoman designated as ships writer. His general quarters assignment was as Bridge Talker and back up helmsman.
Upon receiving honorable discharge, he enrolled at San Mateo J.C. where he received an AA degree and met his wife-to-be, Jimmae.
Bob in 1956 became a Palo Alto Police Officer. In short order, they had three sons and a daughter: Steven, Scott (Emma), Mike Seely, and Susan (Ken). He has one cherished granddaughter, Amber Herfurth.
Bob spent 30 years in law enforcement: retiring as Sunnyvale Det. Lieutenant in 1987, then 8 years sworn Special Deputy U.S. Marshall in the San Jose U.S. Federal Court House. In the early 90’s, he qualified as a distinguished expert at the U.S. Federal Pistol Range at the Presidio.
Bob was a private pilot, gardener, avid salmon fisherman, he built ship models, and read every Louis L’Amour book ever written (at least twice).
His dry wit, notable “Seely Grin”, and storytelling ways (including this obit) will be greatly missed. Bob died peacefully at home December 5, 2012 surrounded by family, and fittingly in the arms of a firefighter.
A Celebration of Life will be held in January 2013. We welcome donations to Hospice of Santa Cruz in Bob’s name.
Published in Santa Cruz Sentinel on December 8, 2012
