Robert Drew Wallen died peacefully at home early on the morning of Thursday, February 10, 2022, surrounded by love, grace, and community.
Bob was an amazing husband and life partner who loved his family quietly and fiercely. He enjoyed travel but he enjoyed home even more. He lived life on his own terms and relished sharing a gourmet meal, a good glass of wine, and lots of laughs with family and friends over the years. Bob was Gator through and through, a chemist, and the consummate golfing salesman. He was a self-professed “video junkie” who loved watching action movies and television – especially westerns like Gunsmoke, home improvement, and car shows.
Bob took risks and was rewarded with adventure from an early age. He once ditched his upstate New York camp counselor job as a young teen to see why so many helicopters were circling and ended up hanging out in a tree at Woodstock for a few days. He caught hell for running away, but he sure could “hear Jimi” for the rest of his life.
Bob will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Thank You isn’t enough, Baby. When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me. Rest easy.
Gifts in memory of Robert Wallen can be made to the Mayo Clinic, designated in support of Mayo Clinic Hospice. Mayo Clinic Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
Rochester Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and condolences of Bob may be shared at rochestercremationservicesmn.com
Lovely !!
I can just hear Bob saying those things
Peace to Kathy and family at this time of great loss. Love, Lisa
I am so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was a good friend to me in high school – funny and wise in his own way. May he live always in us and through us – my deepest sympathies to his family.
This is the Buddhist bardo prayer I have prayed in Bob’s honor:
Buddhist Bardo Prayer for Robert Wallen
O Compassionate Ones, abiding in all directions, endowed with all-knowing wisdom and loving compassion, giving protection and guidance to all sentient beings, we invoke your presence and ask that you hear our prayer.
O Compassionate Ones, Robert Wallen is passing from this world to the next. He is entering the great mystery of death and rebirth.
O Compassionate Ones, protect our fellow being who is now defenseless. Be to him a father and a mother.
O Compassionate Ones, give guidance to our fellow being who is now alone with the joys and sorrows of his past lives.
Guide him to see beyond his blindness and let go of attachments so that he may move freely through the passage between lives.
May the power of unconditional forgiveness embrace him.
May he be clear and unafraid amid the the karmic winds that may surround him.
May he know all sounds as his own sound.
May he know all lights as his own light.
May he know all pain and pleasure to be transient.
O Compassionate Ones, help his heart to be open and may the thought of loving kindness guide him to choose a new life that will benefit himself and others.
May the sound of this prayer emanate in all directions.
May these thoughts become his thoughts.
May all doubts dissolve.
May the power of our love be strong and clear.
O Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Compassionate Ones, manifest now your ancient vows.
May all beings awaken to the unborn and undying Buddha-mind, the source and substance of all there is.
Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha
Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha
Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha.
Peace,
Loren Daniels
I too am saddened by Bob’s passing. Also a high school friend who marched to his own beat and watched out for his friends