Submitted by the family
It is with sorrowful hearts that we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Joseph Ady of Borrego Springs, California, age 77, on July 12, 2024.
Bob was born December 5, 1946, and baptized in Norfolk, VA, to then Lt. Howard P. Ady, Jr., USN and Beverly McMullen Ady. The family had many orders including Navy Installations at or near the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland; Bermuda; Chevy Chase, Maryland; Del Mar, California; Millington, Tennessee; Orinda, California and several tours in Coronado, California, where he was Confirmed in Christ Episcopal Church.
A 1965 graduate of Coronado High School (CHS), Bob lettered in varsity football as left tackle, and sang in the CHS Choir. He was a 1974 graduate of San Diego State University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education, Health & Human Sciences.
Bob had a wide-ranging career history starting as a car valet and bellman with the Hotel del Coronado.
A distinguished two-year Army Veteran, including all of 1968 in Vietnam in the U.S. Army, his decorations include: NDSM (National Defense Service Medal), EXPERT (M-16), VCM (Vietnam Campaign Medal), VSM (Vietnam Support Medal), and two O/S BARS (Overseas Bars – one for every six months).
Bob was a sworn prison officer guard for the County and City of Honolulu, Hawaii, and served as a Probation Officer, County of San Diego, where he retired.
Bob enjoyed an active retirement in Borrego Springs, California, and was a longtime member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and an avid NFL fan.
He is survived by his former wife Joey’s two children Mike (and grandson) and Sydney (two grandsons), of San Diego, and his brothers Howard Ady, Las Vegas, Nevada and John Ady, Carlsbad, California.
I just left some comments about Bob Ady, but apparently they didn’t all post. I worked with Bob in the mid 80s at a San Diego County honor camp – West fork, as a probation officer. I was fresh out of college and he was a mentor to me. He’s about the same age as my older brother, who is also a Vietnam vet. I have many fond memories of Bob and he was a great person. He had a lively sense of humor and was quite a storyteller.
Rest in peace brother …
Yyour friend always,
Marvin English, Senior United States Probation Officer, retired 2016
I just found out about Bob’s passing. I was very sad to hear about it , but are all destined to end our path on earth someday. And he had a rich and varied life that you can see from his Obituary. BTW I really liked the comments of Judy Hastings. Best to you Judy. 🤝
I met Bob during a one year period when we both worked in the San Diego County Probation Honor Camps, Fall of 1985 to Fall of 1986. We were both Assistant Deputy Probation Officers and worked at the remote Westfork Honor Camp ( a low security jail located in a remote Wilderness Area- backside of Palomar Mountain near Riverside County Line). My first job out of college. It was like serving in the military. You worked a week long shift, 12 hour days, and you spend a lot of time together out in the mountains and other areas putting the inmates to various tasks including fire suppression work ( brush clearing) etc.
Bob was bigger than life. Very opinionated, humorous and quite the raconteur. I didn’t realize it at the time, but he was the same age as my older brother, and in fact he was a mentor to me. My brother is also a Vietnam Veteran.
Here’s some fond memories. I remember flying with him and another officer out to Bullhead City, AZ, In a small Cessna plane ( he acted as a co-pilot to another officer).. We went there to go to the casino located on the Colorado river. Bob had been a copilot in Vietnam on helicopters, where he served as a gunner. Also remember going up with him for the day just enjoy some lunch and a few beers at Julian , California, on our off time. And of course there’s countless memories of daily routines in the camp, including The Long Winter nights when we had watch.
The last time I saw him was in the early 1990s when I was working as a federal probation officer, having transferred over to that service from the county. He was working at Ash Street, San Diego County Probation office, and I went there to review a file. We had a great exchange.
I lost contact with him after that. But the thing that was so striking about Bob was that of all the people I met through the years he stood out. He wasn’t perfect, but he was really a great guy and a real person. And here’s a story you didn’t see in the obituary. When he worked at that honor camp, before I arrived, he actually saved an inmate’s life. The inmate had overdosed on drugs and Bob gave him CPR until a helicopter could arrive ( it took a long time for the helicopter arrive, probably something like at least 45 minutes to an hour ). He never mentioned this, I heard her from other officers.
RIP Brother Bob Ady.
Your friend always….
Marvin English
Senior U.S. Probation Officer (ret. 2016)
Rest in heavenly peace my old friend. The last time I saw you was the summer (1964) after graduation. I was walking down Orange and somebody yelled HASTINGS from a car and I turned around to see you and I yelled ADY back. You picked me up and we spent the day at Central Beach. You were one of a kind Bob Ady ❣️ one of my fun buddies from the island so many years ago.