Robert Long

CROSS PLAINS - On a snowy Tuesday evening, January 14, 2014, Bob Long, age 63, held and surrounded by family and dear friends, passed peacefully from his love filled home. Bob was born April 21, 1950 in Long Beach, CA to Marion W. and Ileen P. Long. As a Navy brat, he lived in several communities before his family settled into their home in Markleeville, CA when he was 11. Thus began his knowledge and love of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He loved skiing and backpacking in this rugged terrain and, as an adult, he and his “band of brothers” enjoyed their summer back packing trips, the most recent being this past July. Bob graduated Douglas High School in 1968, attended the College of Idaho for two years, and graduated Stanford University in 1973 with a Masters Degree in Computer Engineering. He worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 1973-1987. Life changed course in 1985 when he met Sara Clope at a seminar in San Diego. It was love at first sight for both of them and 6 months later (May 3, 1986) they were married in Bryn Mawr, PA. They lived on opposite coasts for their first year of marriage; then Bob moved to the Philadelphia area, working for General Electric, while Sara completed medical school. In 1990, they moved to WI, Sara’s home state, and have resided in Cross Plains since then. Here Bob held several executive level positions in technology firms which sold computer software to the world-wide broadcast market. Bob was a gentle, thoughtful, kind, smart, funny, easy going kind of guy, ready to take on a new adventure or a new twist on an old one. He was a loving and loyal husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He helped others view their worlds in new and uplifting ways. Bob is survived by his wife, Sara, children Gillian and Gavin, brother James Long of San Clemente, CA, his Uncle Jack Long of Ozark, AL, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. A Memorial Service will be held on February 8, 2014 at 2:00 pm at WELLSPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 5702 South Hill Drive, Madison, WI 53705. Following the service, a reception will be held at the family home. Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Gilda’s Club of Madison, 7907 UW Court, Middleton, WI 53562 or to Pancreatic Cancer Research at the UW Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792.