What else? I’ll miss the terrible puns he insisted on casually inserting into random discourse, our shared love of the Monty Python “dead parrot” sketch, our co-dependent whimsical t-shirt over-purchasing problem, his stance on vodka vs. gin martinis (he was ontologically wrong but love him anyway), the fact that he sent my mom a sincere sympathy card when her cat passed away despite not actually knowing my mom or said cat, me hovering at his office door talking about all manner of goings on, and the many Thanksgivings I spent with him and his late beloved partner Mitchell sampling the overpriced prix fixe menus of Los Angeles. I will leave it there, with thanks. Thank you for everything, Robert. I will never, ever forget you and love you always.

Diana

His joy in the collection at large and his eagerness to share it with us, including during the impromptu Acquisitions team tour I sprung on the Art team when they reopened after the COVID-era remodel, was infectious. I very quickly started looking forward to the weird and wonderful creations he had me help acquire, privileged to see them even briefly in passing as I passed them on to Cataloging for inclusion in the Arts Cage.

His engagement and dedication will be sorely missed.

My heart goes out to his family, friends, and colleagues.

I remember vividly the classes that he taught when I visited Arts as a grad student and again fell in love with the joy of artists’ books. One of Roberts great strengths as a teacher was to let objects speak for themselves. He was a great curator and advocate but also knew when to allow space for questions and organic curiosity. 

When I joined UCLA Library in 2023 Robert sat down with me over multiple months and explained fund codes, approval plans and some of the more esoteric aspects of collections work in a large public institution. Without his and Diana’s guidance and support the transition to working at a large university library would have been much more rocky. Although he knew so much he was never patronizing. 

I will miss his singing snatches of musicals and literary references. I will miss his understated humor and impish demeanor, but I will probably most miss his great kindness and genuine love and curiosity for the world. 

I'm so sorry to hear about Robert; truly, he was the best of us. I was able to get to know Robert through University of California Library system, as well as ARLIS-Socal, and he was a delight to be around and such a wise, kind, patient, and generous mentor. He will be very much missed. My heart goes out to his Arts Library colleagues, especially Lane Goldzer, Diana King, and Janine Henri (now emeritus), as well as the many many lives he touched at UCLA, working with the visual arts community and his beloved artists' book class.

I'm sharing an interview I did with him for an online Art librarianship course -- I loved hearing more about his time pre-UCLA.

Robert, you will be missed! 

Robert supported my development as a librarian. He wrote me several letter of rec, continued to share his time and expertise during my time in school, and served as a reference for my first librarian position. I’ve benefitted in numerous ways from his kindness and support. 

One of my favorite experiences with Robert was helping him with his Fiat Lux class on artist's books. We’d have to wheel several carts of books to Haines Hall from the Arts Library, set them up in the classroom, and assist students in looking at them. Seeing Robert in his element, teaching with the materials he loved, letting students enjoy the books, seeing their fascination and engagement. It was really lovely to witness, and inspiring too.

It’s hard to put into words what Robert meant to me and how much he helped in my development as a librarian. I’ll carry his example of leading with kindness and wonder with me throughout my career, and in my life.

Robert, I’m so sorry you had to leave us so soon. I’d hoped that we could get together again, so that you could see how much you were loved and missed by those who knew you closely. I hope that where ever you are, you can feel the warmth and joy you’ve inspired. I’ll miss your kindness and gentleness, and think of you when the Jacaranda blossoms bloom.

<3 Alex

While he is gone, his legacy is a lasting one.

As Diana mentioned, Robert welcomed us with open arms when we began working together in September 2007. He was so calm, friendly, patient, and witty to boot! We were soon bonding over our 'tea table' meetings. I could not have asked for a better colleague.

It was a pleasure to watch Robert grow the artists' book collection and develop his Fiat Lux courses, and to see his students' response to his teaching activities. And it was also a treat to work with him to facilitate the use of Arts Special Collections, such as showcasing facsimile codices to a pre-Columbian art history course or Ed Ruscha publications to architecture students. I also enjoyed interacting with Robert outside of work: we occasionally attended the same ARLIS/NA (Art Libraries Society of North America) or AASL (Association of Architecture School Librarians) conferences and we even enrolled in the same California Rare Book School course one summer.

Others have already mentioned the legacy Robert leaves behind with the establishment of an artists' book endowment. But Robert's activities in this area predate that endowment. His interactions with users of that collection resulted in a donor providing annual monetary gifts for the acquisitions of artists' books as well as the annual donation of the latest "Peter Norton Family Christmas Project" by its publisher. Robert often held unboxing events to reveal the new donations and they never failed to be a big surprise. I have fond memories of these events. In addition to his legacy in the form of artists' book collections, Robert's interactions with another donor resulted in the establishment of an endowed Arts Librarian position. Such donor successes are a testament of the trust and respect that Robert was able to develop with donors and library users. This kind of trust and these donor-librarian relationships can only develop when subject expert librarians build and manage collections, provide research consultations and instruction sessions, and serve as subject liaisons to relevant departments. Robert was a strong advocate for branch library services and for maintaining an Arts Library -- something that was once under threat. His work has had a profound impact on the lives of UCLA faculty and students and will no doubt continue to do so. I so wished to see him be named as UCLA's first endowed Arts Librarian!

Robert, mon cher ami, your memory is indeed a blessing.

Janine H.

- Nicole Alvarado

One of my earliest UCLA memories is of Robert onboarding me to the Teaching & Learning Functional Team—right away I was impressed by his thoughtfulness as an instructor and his dedication to teaching, and it made me excited to be joining the library. I’ve since valued him as an endlessly kind and wise colleague, and had been looking forward to proposing an artist book project to him so that, selfishly, I could learn more from his expertise. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with him.

Thank you, Robert—we will miss you.

-- Katherine Kapsidelis

I wish Robert's family and friends much support through these difficult times. May your fond memories of him stay in your heart and help you carry on in your own journey.

-Douglas Ishimaru

I always appreciated how he was able to lighten the mood with his wit and sense of humor when things got tense in the workplace; many of our direct interactions seemed to end with a laugh or a chuckle.

I will remember his knowledge of the trees and flowers (e.g., magnolias and jacarandas), his endless array of graphic t-shirts, his dislike of linen because of the wrinkles, and his connection with The Book of Hair.

I will miss you, Robert.

Simon

Robert’s friendly demeanor was reassuring and memorable, and he had a way of making even small encounters feel meaningful. He will be remembered for his generosity of spirit, his passion, and the enthusiasm he shared with those around him.

As someone who understood the importance of books, libraries, and art, I think this sentiment is fitting: “A library is not just a collection of books; it is a collection of possibilities.” Robert seemed to understand that art and books can open those possibilities—and that sharing a passion for them can inspire others.

He will be greatly missed. - AA [AUD]

I will also never forget a wonderful tour Robert gave me of the UCLA art book archives. It was my first exposure to art books.

Most of all I will never forget how kind Robert was, and how he beautifully complemented my brother Mitchell.

Elissa Levin