News
Man known as "Safety Bob" dies
The Daily Journal
Longtime area resident Robert Vander Stoep died Wednesday at his Potter Valley home.
He was 58.
Vander Stoep was well-known in the community as someone who was always willing to help out.
"He was always there. He was a good man," said Ukiah Fire Capt. Mark Hilliker.
Vander Stoep worked for the Ukiah Fire Department, first as a volunteer, then paid, for 34 years.
Since he "retired" in 1995, he'd worked for the county, where he was its safety officer, evaluating work conditions and conducting seminars.
County employees called him "Safety Bob," but he was known for trying to enhance public safety well before that job.
While with the Ukiah Fire Department, he promoted increasing firefighters' medical skills, Hilliker said.
"He was one of the first guys to push for us to expand our operations into the medical field. We did medical before that, but it was limited mainly to basic life support," he said.
Hilliker noted there was some resistance at the time, partly because of liability issues.
Retired fire Chief Roe Sandelin recalled that Vander Stoep was the first firefighter in the department to become an emergency medical technician and then a paramedic.
He said Vander Stoep also was a great all-around firefighter and his work file was full of letters of gratitude from people he'd helped.
In 1977, he received the fire department's Henry P. Dohring award for service above and beyond the call of duty.
Vander Stoep will be remembered for his generosity, Sandelin said.
Sandelin said Vander Stoep not only worked his regular hours, he would go back on his days off to make sure fire victims, especially elderly ones who lived alone, were all right.
He'd help them figure out how to contact their insurance or arrange for repairs, he said.
"He had a big heart," Sandelin said.
That extended to his fellow firefighters, he said.
He recalled how Vander Stoep came to visit him the day after the North State Hotel fire in 1989, in which two residents died.
"Losing lives like that is real difficult. Bob came over really early in the morning. We talked about it in a real special way. We both had tears in our eyes. I always remembered that," Sandelin said.
Vander Stoep also was a family man, he said.
He loved his family and the feeling apparently was mutual, as demonstrated in a Father's Day story his family related for the Journal in 1990.
"Vander Stoep super dad to his wife and children," the headline read.
Vander Stoep was born Sept. 10, 1942, in Artesia, but moved to Ukiah when he was 5 years old.
He attended Ukiah High School, graduating in 1961.
Vander Stoep served a period of time in the U.S. Navy in underwater demolition.
He first volunteered as a firefighter in 1961.
He also was a member of the Mendocino County Search and Rescue.
In his spare time, he liked to fish for bass and was a member of the BASS Masters, of Ukiah.
He reportedly kept a pet bass named Lunker.
Vander Stoep is survived by his wife, Barbara; his mother, Billie Brannock, of Potter Valley; daughters Joanna Rogers and husband, Ed, and Lisa Morales and husband, Steve, all of Portland, Ore.; son Kenneth Vander Stoep and wife, Julie, of China; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and in-laws.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Ukiah Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
A visitation will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Eversole Mortuary.
People wishing to send condolences on-line can do so at the Virtual Condolences Web site (www.virtual-condolences.com).
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