Robert Louis Veloz: January 31, 1934 – April 13, 2023

Bob Veloz passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 13, 2023, with his beloved family by his side. 

Bob was born on January 31, 1934, in New York City to Louis and Adelaide Veloz. Three years later, the family welcomed identical twin boys who brought so much joy to the family. When Bob was 12 years old, his parents relocated to Burbank, California where he attended Burbank High School, and later Stanford University and UCLA. While in high school, Bob developed a love of sports, especially baseball and football. He was recruited by the Boston Red Sox farm team in his senior year of high school, which he enjoyed immensely until an injury brought his baseball career to an end.

After university, Bob had a long career in aerospace and aviation. From 1972 to 1984, Bob’s career changed course, during which time he was involved in hospital management in the Middle East. Upon returning home, he purchased the J. C. Carter Company, a manufacturing business specializing in aircraft fuel systems and liquified gas pumps. Bob sold the J.C. Carter Company in 1997 and thereafter retired. 

In the early years of Bob’s aerospace career and while at Whittaker Corporation, he met and married the love of his life, Marlene. They were inseparable. Their life together was full of adventure, especially while living in the Middle East and Europe. While abroad, they traveled extensively and made many long-lasting friendships. Bob’s love of adventure and natural curiosity about different cultures continued throughout his life. This curiosity and life experience gave him a depth of knowledge on so many subjects.

Throughout Bob’s life, he supported his community through many charitable organizations. Bob was a force in Santa Barbara and Montecito, owing to his many generous contributions to the community, and to his insatiable quest to make our community a paradise for all. He particularly enjoyed mentoring young adults. He was passionate about his family, friends, gardening, travel, aviation, and his exuberant love of music. Bob took great joy in bringing unexpected and immeasurable happiness to others.

Bob’s death was preceded by the deaths of his parents, Louis and Adelaide, and his younger twin brothers, Thomas and Frank.

Bob is survived by his wife, Marlene, his son Michael and his wife Tia, and daughter Katherine by a previous marriage, his grandchildren, Jonathan and his wife Fanny, Christin and her husband Ryan, Megan and her husband Donnie, and Jeffrey; and his great-grandchildren Kellan, Chloem, and Caden. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in the name of Robert Veloz be made to the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.