A Gift in Gratitude for Kindness—and Friendship
When Bob Wilson of Kentfield passed away in August 2023, he left two bequests to organizations near and dear to his heart: MarinHealth and Golden Retriever Rescue.
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and graduate of Dartmouth College, Bob began his career in advertising on Madison Avenue during the “Mad Men” years. In 1960, he moved to San Francisco, where he was transferred to his agency’s San Francisco branch. Within a couple of years, he met and married his wife Nancy, and in 1965 they moved to Kentfield.
The Wilsons were first introduced to what was then Marin General Hospital when their two young sons were seen there in the emergency department (ED) for the occasional bumps and scrapes (one, a fall from the monkey bars at Kent Elementary School).
Bob devoted himself to their activities as their boys grew up, coaching Little League and soccer. Another special interest of Bob’s was community theater in Marin County: Marin Civic Light Opera, the College of Marin Drama Department, The Mountain Play, and the Ross Valley Players, where he served as president for several seasons. Over the decades, Bob produced, directed, and performed on stage, earning Bay Area Critics Circle Awards for acting and directing for which he was extremely proud.
In 2011, Bob sought treatment at MarinHealth for an aggressive melanoma. He recovered and continued to enjoy good health until 2022, when the cancer reappeared and, together with related ailments, he went to MarinHealth Medical Center’s ED and hospital for care with increasing frequency. With each hospital visit, Bob and his family were deeply impressed with the skill and kindness of all the staff at every level. He ultimately passed away at home in August 2023.
During his lifetime, Bob made modest gifts to charities that meant the most to him. Along with the Golden Retriever Rescue, he made gifts to support public television, Doctors Without Borders, and his prep school and college.
“He made gifts as just a regular part of his spending,” Nancy recalled. “He would just say ‘I like them’ and add a new one from time to time.”
His decision to leave his principal bequest to MarinHealth came as no surprise to his family. “At every visit, our family was impressed at the professionalism of the staff,” Nancy said. “Bob was always deeply grateful not only for the skill of everyone with whom he dealt but also for their kindness—and indeed their friendship.”