Recalling the life of Bill Roe, who left us far too soon at the age of 83
Bicycle accident has claimed the life of a man who contributed so much to our community over so many years
Going all the way back to the days when our little town was known as Davisville, I can't think of another individual or another family who has contributed as much to what we all love about Davis today as have Bill Roe and the entire Roe family.
Bill Roe, an Iowa native who moved to Davis in 1970, died early Monday morning, April 21, surrounded by his family at the UC Davis Medical Center, after a bicycle accident last Saturday in El Macero. He was 83 and lived every one of those years as if it was his first and as if it was his last, never once passing up the opportunity to be kind and considerate and keenly aware of the hopes and dreams of everyone who came his way.
He was the very definition of that sparkling phrase, "Bloom where you're planted." Fortunately for all of us, he happened to be planted in our own hometown and bloom he did.
Put simply, Bill was one of the greatest human beings the Good Lord ever put on this earth and we were blessed beyond measure to have him in our midst for the last 55 years.
It's one thing to do things that help your friends and family - as Bill certainly did - but it's quite another to be involved and responsible for kindnesses and projects and visions that make life better for many thousands of people who may never have heard of Bill Roe and knew nothing of what he was about.
None of us have enough fingers and toes to count all the projects that Bill and his wife Nancy - a Davis native - were involved in from start to finish. Sometimes they were asked by others to participate or contribute, but many times Bill and Nancy were the ones to come up with the idea in the first place. They would sense a need in our town and then go about clearing all the hurdles, with sweat and smiles and hard work, to turn a dream into reality.
Bill grew up in a small Iowa town and was the son of the local grocer. He graduated with a degree in architecture from Iowa State and then went on to earn an MBA at Stanford.
It was at Stanford where he met the love of his life, Davis' own Nancy Whitcombe, and the two were soon married.
Nancy's roots in Davis brought them here, where together with Nancy's brother, John Whitcombe, and Bill's friend from business school, Paul Makley, they founded Tandem Properties in 1972.
From the beginning, Bill was committed not only to the success of the company, but to the well-being and growth of all the people who made up the Tandem community. He believed in treating colleagues as family, a value that will remain central to Tandem's mission in the days and years ahead.
Bill was also a passionate advocate for giving back. Under his leadership, Tandem became a proud supporter of the greater Davis community. He was instrumental in establishing long-standing support for the Davis Joint Unified School District, including the Tandem Foundation that provides $50,000 each year to Davis school programs.
Bill also led Tandem in contributions to UC Davis and the Davis community through the Aggie Pack, the Mondavi Center and the Manetti Shrem Museum, as well as supporting community pillars including the Davis Arts Center, the Pence Gallery, All Things Right and Relevant and the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.
Recently, he and Nancy worked on the Davis Centennial Seal Project and the Hunt Boyer Mansion as together they helped foster a vibrant, inclusive and enduring Davis community culture rooted in art, education and civic pride.
Bill and Nancy were named as Davis Citizens of the Year in 1987, an honor they could pretty much have been awarded every year since then as well, because their efforts on behalf of our town, the UC Davis campus and people in general, have continued in full force to this very day.
Bill served as the Davis Rotary Club president and had a significant presence with the Hickey Gym renovation, the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, the Officer Natalie Corona Splashpad, the Davis High All-Sports Boosters, the UC Davis Institute of Governmental Affairs, the Davis Chamber of Commerce and the Davis Community Church.
The Roe family notes that "While his passing leaves a profound absence, we remain inspired by the life Bill lived and the values he championed. He was successful, but remained kind, thoughtful and generous to his last day.
“Bill was a quiet leader and mentor to many. The Roe family is committed to honoring his legacy in everything we do in Davis, including our work, partnerships and continued commitment to the people and causes he cared for so deeply."
Since Bill's death just a few days ago, I've been overwhelmed with comments from community members who loved him so dearly.
Noted UC Davis Chancellor Gary May, "LeShelle and I were devastated to learn of Bill Roe's untimely passing. Bill and Nancy are not only generous benefactors for a wide variety of causes at UC Davis, but they are also dedicated volunteers, good friends and just plain 'salt of the earth' people. We will miss seeing Bill at Aggie games, Mondavi performances and other events around town. Our hearts go out to Nancy and the family during this difficult time."
Said former Davis Mayor and California State Senator Lois Wolk, "Bill was a generous, kind man of integrity and purpose who loved this community. When we recognize people who 'give back' to Davis, Bill must be at the top of any list. Bill just never stopped 'giving.' In business, he and his partners transformed the urban landscape of Davis for families and students and helped to create the community we call home. I also know that he was very proud and dedicated to his family, Nancy, the hometown girl he married and his children and grandchildren whose basketball games, band concerts, plays and ballet performances he never missed."
Added former Davis Mayor and Yolo Superior Court Judge Dave Rosenberg, "When I think about the term 'gentleman,' an image of Bill Roe comes to mind. He was tall, urbane, fit, energetic and had a great sense of humor. He and his wife Nancy were a power couple in Davis. Developers were not always well-respected in Davis, but Bill was an exception - straightforward, honest and ethical. We could always depend on Bill's good word."
Aggie men's head basketball coach Jim Les described Bill as "an unbelievable man and friend to so many. Bill Roe's passing leaves a space no one can fill. A pillar of our community and a man whose kindness, generosity and love touched everyone he encountered. His absence will be deeply felt and his memory forever cherished."
Said former California State Assembly member Helen Thomson, "Bill Roe was a gentleman and a gentle man with a big smile and a warm greeting whenever I saw him. He was actively involved in many community activities. As a result of his generosity, our community will continue to enjoy many things for years to come."
Bill's physical therapist, Miles Gorder, penned a note that said, "If at any point a message can be passed to Bill from me, some things I wish I could tell him - Bill, I have only known you for a few short years, but you have left a lasting impression on my life. You believed in me when so many others didn't. Every meeting we had, I learned something new about you as a human being and role model. I learned that you can be successful, yet humble. Wealthy, yet generous. Rich in spirit. A driver of community and a beloved family man. Rest easy knowing your impact on this world went far beyond what you could ever realize."
UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca said "We are heartbroken by the passing of Bill Roe, a true pillar of the Davis community and a cherished member of our Aggie family. Bill's love for athletics and the genuine relationships he built with our coaches and staff left a lasting legacy. His presence was woven into the fabric of our department, a reflection of how much he meant to all of us. Our thoughts are with Nancy and the entire Roe family. They are, and always will be, part of our Aggie heritage."
Bill's younger brother Chuck remembered Bill as "Extraordinarily kind and generous and encouraging and wise. He was my best friend. I think some siblings go through difficult times, but Bill and I never had that. We came from a very small Iowa town and he was a star. He was a model for me who showed that great success in life is possible and can be accomplished with kindness and neighborly ethics. He found good in everyone."
Longtime Roe family friend Jacque Bartholomew said Monday's Rotary meeting has cancelled its scheduled speaker and will simply spend the lunch hour talking about the life and legacy and love of Bill Roe and all that he brought to our town.
Craig Reynolds, who grew up in Davis and has known the Roe family for years, said he had met with Bill just a few weeks ago to discuss another program dealing with Mexican folk art.
"His passing is so sad. Needless to say, Bill is a Davis icon," Reynolds noted.
Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs commented that "Bill's death leaves a huge void in the social fabric of our community. Without a doubt, Bill and his wife Nancy are two of the most giving and community-minded people Stacie and I have ever met. If he was approached regarding a deserving community need, he would always ask 'well, how do we make this happen?' and work tirelessly to turn it into a reality."
Former Davis Mayor Ann Evans said Bill Roe "embodied the spirit of Davis," while former Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor noted that "Bill was a friend to everyone he met. Curious, funny, generous and patient. Bill Roe was one of our finest. Wherever and whenever good things happened in Davis, you can be sure Bill was close by."
Friend and business partner Jim Gray remembered long ago when "Bill empathized with my anxieties as a new father. He advised me to be interested in whatever fascinated Jacob, irrespective of my own knowledge. He emphasized the importance of support and presence, whether it be in soccer, tennis, basketball, FFA or any other activity my son chose to pursue. Bill's wisdom extended to marriage. He believed in prioritizing a fulfilling marriage over wealth or career success."
Jennifer Anderson, former owner of Davis Ace, fondly remembers Bill's successful effort decades ago to have women accepted to Rotary, a fivesome that included herself, Sandy Motley, Sandy Thompson, Joan Miller and Jacque Bartholomew.
"It was such an honor to be a Rotarian," she said.
Former Yolo County Supervisor Jim Provenza may have said it best when he noted "It is hard to imagine Davis without Bill Roe."
Indeed.
On a personal note, my family was several times on the receiving end of the Roe family's kindness and generosity.
My oldest daughter, Erin, a lifelong Davisite, said of Bill, "He made my Tin Man costume when I was in 9th grade at Holmes. It was beautiful. His daughter Whitney was playing the Tin Man at Emerson, but our performances were a week apart, so we shared the costume. It was really cool."
By the way, those two junior high school performances of "The Wizard of Oz" took place 34 years ago.
As for myself, when I was shocked and saddened last spring to be told I was being let go from the dream job in journalism I had held for the last 55 years, within half an hour of the news becoming public, Bill and Nancy were on our doorstep, not just with condolences and kindness, but with concrete support and encouragement that brighter days lay ahead. They, of course, were right, but their support at that moment meant so much to me and my family.
Bill's wife Nancy said, "I like to tell the story about how we met. When Bill arrived at Stanford for graduate school, he went into the housing office to find a rental and roommates. One of the roommates he found was my boyfriend at the time. When I went to visit and met Bill for the first time, I was wowed by his height and his light brown hair bleached by the sun after working outdoors all summer, and by how handsome he was.
"I tried to set him up on dates that semester, but they never worked out. He held out until his roommate and I broke up and then he swooped in. There was never a doubt of his love and devotion to me.
"His height fascinated everyone in many countries around the world during our adventures. He was a giant to them. We were in a market in Tibet when a sweet older woman who was only about four feet tall thought Bill was the funniest thing she had ever seen. She walked up and pointed up at him and giggled. Then she ran off and found a friend at the market to show him off to, and another friend, and another."
Bill's daughter Whitney noted that "My father and I had the best conversations. Whenever I needed a kind ear to listen and support a big decision, a frustration or a proud moment, he was there. What I've found interesting over the last few days is how he provided his support to so many people. I feel so lucky to have had that support from him and the experience of what a great listener and deeply caring dad felt like."
Added Bill's son Eric, "My father was my hero and my role model. He was always calm (unless a referee's bad call went against his favorite basketball team), and he never lost his temper with me no matter how much I screwed up. He acted with dignity and compassion and was generous with everyone, which always encouraged me to do the same. My parents' commitment to volunteering inspired me. It is my hope to continue this legacy."
Added Eric, "In 1999 my father was inspired to plan a cross-country bicycle ride along the old Lincoln Highway. The highway started in San Francisco, then traveled through his adopted town of Davis, then through his college town of Ames, Iowa, all the way to Battery Park in New York City. He started biking from San Francisco on May 1 and traveled roughly 60 miles a day for 60 days and arrived in New York City just before the Fourth of July. My heroic mother traveled with him in a rented RV and acted as the sag wagon. Following his ride, he wrote a book about his adventures titled 'All the Way to Lincoln Way' that included many photos from along the ride. The title came from a cheer that the Iowa State student rooting section used to give when the Cyclones had the ball and were moving up the field toward the end zone, which was located near Lincoln Way."
Bill's 19-year-old grandson, Truman, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, caught the first plane home when he heard of Saturday's accident and was able to be with his grandfather before he died.
Before he returned to school, Truman wrote, "I still keep running it through my head that I'll never see him again. The thing that makes me feel better, and I hope that maybe this can work for you too, Dad, is to think of everything he accomplished. I think he's the smartest person I've ever met, while always remaining kind, compassionate and patient. He was always open to talking about whatever was going through my head, no matter how ridiculous or obscure it was. I promise that we'll get through this. He will never be forgotten. He lives on through us."
Eric kindly shared that family members were able to visit Bill before he passed away, something that is a great comfort not only to the family, but to all of us.
Said Eric, "I received a call from the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday that my father had been rushed to the emergency room after a bicycle accident. I called my mother and picked her up, and we met my uncle, Chuck Roe, at the hospital. We were with him the first day and I spent the night with him in his hospital room.
"My sister Whitney, husband Matt, and two sons, Bear and Odin, were already en route home from an overseas trip and arrived at the hospital Sunday afternoon. My son Truman flew in from college in Wisconsin and daughter Veronica flew in from college in San Diego and joined my wife Channa and younger daughter Daphne with us at the hospital Sunday afternoon. My uncle Kenny Whitcombe also visited Sunday afternoon.
"Although he was sleeping, everyone was able to hug him and tell him they loved him and say goodbye. I told my mother to go home both Saturday and Sunday nights so she could get some rest while I stayed with him. His breathing slowed and he passed away early Monday morning while I was by his side."
The family is planning a celebration of Bill's life in May, with a time and place to be announced soon.
Bill Roe was a man for all seasons and a man for all reasons. He could bring out the good in all of us. As my wife Shelley said to me so perfectly of Bill, "I don't think there is anyone who has been so good to Davis."
If the test of a man is whether he left the world better than he found it, Bill passed with flying colors. He did so much to make Davis the town we all love and cherish today.
He lived a full and rich and meaningful life and he made our lives full and rich and meaningful as well.
He will be missed and he can never be replaced, but his contributions will live on in the hearts and souls of the residents of our town forever.
Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com
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Thank you Bob for this beautiful tribute. Davis really needed this. Bill had such a full and generous life. His impact was huge in Davis, but went far beyond. Love to the entire Roe family from Cass and Craig.
Thank you, Bob. Your beautiful tribute to Bill touched my heart.