For over six decades, Robert has called his modest home in the Bay Area his sanctuary. Since 1958, he’s lived here, through life’s twists and turns, always with a quiet strength and love for family. His story is one of resilience, spanning nearly a century, beginning in the rural farmlands of Kansas and Missouri, where he was born and raised. Now, at 93, Robert’s journey is shared with his daughter Sheryl, whose care and companionship provide the support he needs to maintain his independence.

Robert’s early years were spent on a farm in Missouri, where his fascination with mechanics was born. This curiosity guided much of his life. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, though stationed in Europe, Robert found himself drawn to the Bay Area, following his girlfriend who would later become his first wife. They shared 18 years together before she tragically passed away at just 38 years old.

Robert remarried four years later, reconnecting with a woman he met in Missouri. Their love story spanned over three decades, ending in 2005 when she too passed away. “I’ve been a bachelor ever since,” Robert says. It was after this loss that he embraced a new hobby: cooking. “I had to partially learn to cook and fend for myself. I’ve been interested in food ever since,” he laughs. Now, he enjoys food programs on television and finds comfort in simple, home-cooked meals.

For 38 years, Robert worked as a service technician for the National Cash Register Company (NCR) in San Francisco, transitioning from repairing mechanical cash registers and adding machines to working with early electronic computers in the 1980s. His life outside of work included golf, a sport he loved until knee problems forced him to stop just before retirement. At 85, he underwent two knee replacements, showing once again the resilience that defined his life.

This resilience was tested again in May of this year, when Robert suffered a serious fall. “I was watching TV, had a slice of pie and coffee in my arms, and lost my balance,” Robert recalls. The fall resulted in a fractured L3 vertebra. “I hit my head twice on a chair and then the floor,” he says. Though wearing an alert necklace, Robert crawled on his back to the phone to call a friend, who contacted 911. Sheryl, who lives three hours away in Placerville, was immediately involved, coordinating his care at San Francisco’s Zuckerberg Trauma Center.

After a week in the hospital, the doctors recommended rehab, but Robert was determined to go home. “He said no, I’m going home,” Sheryl recalls with a smile. Since then, she has been by his side, helping him navigate the recovery process. Though Robert now uses a walker, he’s working hard with physical therapy, hoping to eventually return to using a cane.

“He’s doing much better, but he’s got a path to still conquer,” Sheryl says. The fall also brought a new change: Robert now receives meals through Meals on Wheels, a program that has lifted a significant burden. “It took away my worry about eating,” Robert explains. “All I have to care about is breakfast.” His meals are delivered twice a week, giving him the nutrition he needs without the strain of standing for long periods in the kitchen.

Sheryl’s role as caregiver has deepened over the years. “It’s not been bad at all caring for him,” she says, reflecting on the time she spent with her father during his knee surgeries. “This time around, it’s a little rougher because you got a broken back,” she teases, and Robert smiles in return. Their relationship, filled with affection and mutual respect, is also marked by the occasional lighthearted dispute. “We don’t always agree on how things should be done,” Sheryl laughs, referencing the dishwasher battle they often have. “But the dishes get clean either way.”

“It’s been a long road, but I’ve got my lifesaver right here,” Robert says, glancing at Sheryl. It’s clear that, for both, family is at the heart of everything.