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Robert Dailey Hitchcock (1923 - 2009)

Robert Dailey Hitchcock
Born in Los Angeles, Californiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 23 Jul 1949 (to about 1957) in Los Angeles, Californiamap
Husband of — married about 1958 in Californiamap [uncertain]
Descendants descendants
Died at age 85 in Ventura, Californiamap
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified | Created 1 Feb 2015
This page has been accessed 269 times.

Contents

Biography

1923 Birth

Middle name, Dailey, from his paternal grandmother's family.

Name: Robert Hitchcock
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 11 Dec 1923
Event Place: Los Angeles, California, United States
Gender: Male
Mother's Name: Robertso {n}

1942 WWII Draft

Name: Robert D Hitchcock
Name (Original): HITCHCOCK ROBERT D
Event Type: Military Service
Event Date: 16 Jul 1942
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Event Place: Los Angeles, California, United States
Race: White
Citizenship Status: citizen
Birth Year: 1923
Birthplace: CALIFORNIA
Education Level: 1 year of college
Civilian Occupation: Actors and actresses
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Military Rank: Private
Army Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Source Reference: Civil Life
Serial Number: 19100335[1]

1949 Marriage

Robert 's occupation is listed as 'Physicist-Geophysics' and Iris' as 'Stenographer-Civil Service'. Iris' middle name, Merle, is clearly spelled out. As of Feb. 2015, I have been unable to understand exactly who the witness, HELEN G. HITCHCOCK residing at 1700 Mission St., S. Pasadena is?

See photo
Name: Robert Dailey Hitchcock
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 23 Jul 1949
Event Place: , California, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Birth Year (Estimated): 1924
Father's Name: Horace D Hitchcock
Mother's Name: Amy V Robertson
Spouse's Name: Iris Marle Taylor {Merle}
Spouse's Age: 25
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1924
Spouse's Father's Name: Joesph H Taylor
Spouse's Mother's Name: Norma Tuckett[2]

Divorce

Based on Iris' mother's and Robert's obituary, Robert and Iris are divorced by 1958 and she is re-married to a Mr. Santos by 1994. No records have been found for children of Iris & Robert.

1958 2nd Marriage

Based on information in the following obituary (2009-51=1958). I haven't located any information for Valerie's maiden name. Based on the wording in that obituary, I'm assuming that his daughter, Ann, is with Valerie not Iris.

2009 Death

Given Name: Robert
Middle Name: Dailey
Surname: Hitchcock
Birth Date: 11 December 1923
Social Security Number: 563-24-0344
State: California
Last Place of Residence: Ventura, California
Previous Residence Postal Code: 93003
Event Date: 31 January 2009
Age: 86[3]

Obituary

Robert Dailey Hitchcock - Class Of 1941 Ventura County Star (CA) - February 5, 2009

Robert Hitchcock of Ventura, passed away on Jan. 31, 2009. He was born on Dec. 11, 1923, in Los Angeles, and was raised and educated in South Pasadena. He was the son of Horace and Amy Hitchcock and grandson of A.S. Hitchcock, noted botanist and one-time head agronomist for the United States. His grandfather's gifts of books on science and nature, as well as his office in the Smithsonian "Castle," sparked Robert's lifelong interest.

Robert attended Stanford University for one year before joining the U.S. Army in July 1942. He was in the Signal Corps and was attached to the 8th Air Force in England. He was honorably discharged in late 1945 and resumed his studies at Stanford, graduating with a B.S. in physics. He received an M.S. in physics from the University of Iowa, where a highlight was having dinner with department head James Van Allen, along with two other graduate students.

Robert's best friend moved to Ventura County when the boys were young teens, and Robert became very enamored with the area during frequent visits. He definitely knew where he wanted to live when he grew up. After working in L.A., for two years, he went to work for Sperry Gyroscope, Point Mugu, as a mathematician and then to the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory at Port Hueneme as a physicist for 24 years. During that time, his work ranged from research on superconductive thin films for use in electronic sensors, development of underwater TV, mathematical analysis and programming for ocean engineering, e.g., ocean current sensors, underwater lights, acoustic transponders, topographic mapping systems, and seafloor emplacement systems. While working at the lab, he earned nine patents for the Navy. After retirement, he was self-employed as a consultant.

He loved classical music and after a few piano lessons insisted on teaching himself and was able to perform a complete, fairly credible, Grieg's Piano Concert by the age of 16. Robert so enjoyed making and hearing music that during his years in the universities or in the Army he always managed to find a piano on which to play. Many of those pianos were in churches with open doors and tolerant clergy.

Robert's hands on the piano was a source of pleasure for his family, as were his playful ways with language and numbers, his sense of humor and the caring he showed for all of us. We say goodbye with great sadness but with wonderful memories.

Robert is survived by his wife of 51 years, Valerie; daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Rolf Hesse; and grandson, Robert Hesse, whose early years were filled with "grandpa stories." He is also survived by nephews, Frank [SPHS '61], Brian, and Alan; and niece, Christine, the children of his deceased brother, Dr. William Hitchcock.

We wish to thank all those good people at the Venturan who, for four weeks, provided Robert with assistance, warmth and loving care.

At Robert's request, private services will be held at sea near his second favorite place, Pacific Grove.[4]

Reference

Name: Robert Dailey Hitchcock
Residence Date: 22 Jul 1998-15 Nov 2007
Residence Place: Ventura, California, United States
Birth Date: 11 Dec 1923
Phone Number: (805) 642-8916
Phone Number Recorded Date: 15 Nov 2007
Address: 5433 Elmhurst St
Address Continued: Ventura, California 93003
Address Date: 22 Jul 1998-15 Nov 2007
2nd Address: 1054 Via Arroyo
2nd Address Continued: Ventura, California 93003
2nd Address Date: 01 Jul 1970-01 Jun 2001
Possible Relatives: Erie V Hitchcock, Ert D Hitchcock, Valerie V Hitchcock[5]

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

  1. Affiliate ARC Identifier: 1263923, Box Film Number: 03093.31, Affiliate Publication Title: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946
  2. GS Film number:2117335 ,Digital Folder Number:005698900 ,Image Number: 00964
  3. Social Security Death Index
  4. http://www.sphsaa.org/class_profile.cfm?member_id=1405822
  5. U.S. Public Records, Record Number: 197064782

See also:





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Categories: Physicists | United States Army, World War II