 | | | Bob Wilson Photo Karen Drinkwater | | | | | | Bob Wilson, longtime Campolindo High School athletic director, teacher and coach, passed away on Dec. 17 after a three-year bout with cancer at the age of 62.
While a student at UC Berkeley, Wilson began his coaching and teaching career at El Cerrito High School, where he helped coach the frosh-soph football team. He taught and coached for nearly 40 years, the last several at Campolindo.
He raised his kids, Bobby, Bonnie, and Jenny, in Moraga. He positively touched the lives of hundreds of students as a physical education teacher and football coach.
"I spent every morning in Bob's PE office before I would head off to my classroom," said Campolindo football coach Kevin Macy. "Bob had a way of brightening up your day."
During his 15-year tenure as athletic director at Campolindo, he was an active member of the Moraga community.
"Bob was more than an AD to the administration, he almost looked like a vice principal with all the extra duties he accepted," Macy explained. "He was one of former principal Carol Kitchens' right hand men."
Under his direction, the Campolindo athletic program was twice named Division III School of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.
Many of the starters on this year's CIF Division 3 state championship team played for Wilson in his final season as Campolindo freshman football coach. "Bob was perfect as a freshman football coach as he had a village elder's persona that helped nurture freshmen who were playing their first year of contact football," said Macy.
The day before the NorCal Regional game, the juniors and seniors on the varsity football team visited Wilson at his home. They presented him with a signed team picture bearing an inscription dedicating the NCS championship victory to him.
Before the CIF State Championships, Macy asked his team to play in the spirit of Wilson. After Adam Remotto's fumble recovery led to the winning touchdown, Macy said he thought of Wilson and the possibility there was some intervention taking place.
Macy remembers Wilson as great role model. "Bob was a mentor, and his life is a great inspiration."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA