Chris Sam
Dear Jane and family,
I am saddened to hear today (Christmas Eve, 2024) of Bob's passing. As many have attested, Bob was a remarkable man, profoundly kind, with a sense of humor (I recall vividly), cherishing his family, and always there for his colleagues. I had the pleasure of knowing Bob during my tenure at Sun Oil Britain in Aberdeen, Scotland, and then in Philadelphia / The Hook.
During an overseas trip to the UK, Bob completed his offshore training (rigorous) in Aberdeen, and then we flew out to Balmoral 16/21 (a Floating Production Vessel or FPV) in the UK North Sea. The 1.5 hour chopper ride out was unnerving for Bob, recollecting his time in Vietnam (I came to know later, after we landed).
Not wishing to put Bob through that again, we contemplated going back to Aberdeen by boat, a 2.5 day journey in rough seas. Staring down at the boat alongside the FPV, bobbing up and down like a cork helped give the chopper another try, to our collective relief :).
My fondest recollection is of his calming demeanor, when faced with life's challenges at work. He was so good at calmly defusing tough situations, that his colleagues fondly referred to Bob as 'LT', or the Lion Tamer. Bob's efforts worked like a charm every time!
Rest in peace, LT.
Chris Sam
California.
12/24/2024
