Join us on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.  as we gather in celebration of the life of Bob Wyckoff at the Miners Foundry.

Robert (Bob) M. Wyckoff died peacefully at home with his daughter Janet by his side on Saturday, January 18, 2014.  He was 85.  He was a fourth generation Californian, born in Glendale on May 22, 1928.

Bob was a devotee of our country’s history; its people, places, and things.  With a Master’s Degree in Journalism and a lifetime of experience as a photographer, he was well suited to chronicle the origins, progress, and maturation of our community.

 

Bob loved being a journalist. To say he was good at it would be an understatement. Most recently he penned a popular column in The Union, Timelines, drawing on material from his vast knowledge of our area, his photo collection and his sharp memory. He also wrote for The Nugget and The Independent.

He published Walking Tours and Twice-Told Tales of Grass Valley, Hydraulicking: North Bloomfield and the Makakoff Diggin’s State Park, Hydraulicking: A brief History of Hydraulic Mining in Nevada County and The Compleat Pedestrian’s Partially Illustrated Guide to Greater Nevada City” which had at least seven printings.

Along the course of his life journey he co-authored the musical stage show, Never Come, Never Go some fifty years ago, and produced its presentation at the Miners Foundry, then known as the American Victorian Museum.

In addition to his writing skills, he was an avid and highly accomplished photographer. He was The Union’s first staff photographer, and was enlisted by the City of Nevada to chronicle hundreds of the town’s events, buildings, people and places over the course of several decades. Thanks to his family, his extensive photo collection has been preserved and some examples will be on display at his memorial.

He was a member of E Clampus Vitus and as such joined the local effort to make North Bloomfield and the expanse of hydraulic diggings all around the town into a State Park. He was the lead-off speaker at the park’s dedication.

He had a passion for trains and ocean going vessels with the latter springing from his service in the United States Coast Guard. He loved Railroad Museums, railroad history, and vacations involving train travel. He was a frequent visitor to Alaska and deeply enjoyed visiting town after Alaskan town on a mail boat, ferry or whatever other water craft was available. Bob traveled extensively both here and abroad.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Charles Wyckoff and Christine Ruth Wyckoff, and his brothers, Russell and John.

His is survived by his brother James Wyckoff, and children Janet Bertoncini, Jennifer Blomberg and James Wyckoff, and his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Robert M. Wyckoff was deservedly proud of his significant, comprehensive contributions to our community and was always ready to help out with any tasks at hand. We deeply appreciate all that he has done, and we miss him greatly.

In his memory, donations may be made to the Miners Foundry, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, California.

 

~ Paul Matson, President of the Miners Foundry Board of Trustees