Santa Monica City Council Remembers Bob Holbrook
December 14, 2020 9:30 AM
Former mayor and 24-year veteran of the Santa Monica City Council, Bob Holbrook, died on Friday after a long illness. Members of the Santa Monica City Council who knew and worked with Holbrook, a native-born Santa Monican, shared thoughts of gratitude for his decades of public service and significant tenure on the Santa Monica City Council (1990 – 2014).
“Bob loved Santa Monica and its history and passionately shaped more than two decades of local policy with great care and heart,” said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “He left the Council the same year I joined, yet his imprint is felt today. We grieve the loss of a Santa Monica great alongside his loving family. “
“I’ll always treasure Bob’s wisdom, wit, and generosity. He cared deeply about the city of his birth and showed it every day. We shared a deep volunteer commitment to charitable endeavors in Santa Monica. Our friendship was so indelible that even though there was a huge gulf between his USC Trojans and my UCLA Bruins we still found common ground. He was my mentor. I will miss him always and wish the best for his wonderful family,” said Councilmember Phil Brock.
“Bob was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a loyal member of the USC Trojan family, and a dedicated public servant. He was always kind and generous and no one loved Santa Monica more,” said Councilmember Gleam Davis.
“Bob was the last of the previous generation of Santa Monica leadership, affable, amiable, and always quick with an anecdote. No Council meeting was ever complete without a spell of storytelling from Uncle Bob,” said Councilmember Kevin McKeown who served on the Council with Holbrook for 16 years.
As Mayor, Holbrook sought ways to battle homelessness and improve the quality of Santa Monica’s public spaces. Mayor Holbrook was instrumental in building Tongva Park in the Civic Center, and a memorial at Woodlawn Cemetery to honor local veterans, many of whom sacrificed themselves in service of this nation. Before joining the Council in 1990, Holbrook served on the Board of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District for seven years. As a lifelong Santa Monica who attended local schools, he remained a passionate advocate for education. He was also an ardent supporter of his alma mater, the USC Trojans.
In February 2018, the City Council contributed seed funding for a scholarship in honor of Bob Holbrook to support the education of young Santa Monicans pursuing a career in public service. To learn more and to contribute to the Bob Holbrook Public Service Scholarship, visit santamonicacollegefoundation.org/bob-holbrook.
The Tuesday, December 15, 2020, City Council meeting will be adjourned in honor of former Mayor Bob Holbrook. You can tune in through the City’s YouTube.
The City of Santa Monica family extends condolences and healing to Holbrook’s wife, Jean Ann, and their children Bobby Jr., Cynthia and Craig, and grandchildren.
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Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov