Robert Thomas Spielman

Robert “Bob” Thomas Spielman was born on April 28, 1935, to Joseph and Elizabeth Spielman. Bob and his twin brother (Bill) were the youngest of their eight children.

Bob was born and raised in Merced, California. He graduated from Merced Union High School in 1953. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the US Army in 1954 and served in Hawaii during the Korean war. He was honorably discharged in 1956.

After serving in the Army, Bob attended Fresno State University, where he played football and set the record in the javelin throw as a member of the track team. While working a job on campus, Bob’s boss was Mary Ellen Madden. Their work life turned into a love life with marriage in 1959 and Mary becoming his boss for the rest of his life. Bob majored in Physical Education and obtained a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential in 1962.

Bob and Mary moved to Simi Valley in 1962, where he started his career as a high school teacher. Bob taught at Simi Valley High School from 1962 to 1968. Bob was on the committee to establish a second high school in Simi Valley and Royal High School opened in 1968. Bob became Royal’s first Athletic Director and Track Coach, and the gymnasium was named after him in 1975. He taught biology and horticulture and coached football and track during his teaching career. He influenced countless students and most learned his bark was worse than his bite. During his teaching career, Bob did construction work and various projects during the summers, which started with building his family’s home in 1971. When Bob retired from teaching in 1990, he started Spielman Construction Company and specialized in home remodels and room additions.

Bob attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic church and was very active in the Knights of Columbus and became a Grand Knight. He was also a member of the Y’s Men club of the YMCA in Simi Valley where he served at many events in the community. He belonged to the local Model A car club. He loved family vacations to Trinity Lake and other destinations throughout the country, and travelling with Mary in a bus he converted into an RV.

Bob passed away on August 26, 2024, due to complications from an infection. He was 89 years old. He is survived by Mary his wife of 65 years; their three sons and their spouses, Kurt and Maureen, Brent and Roberta, Scott and Stephanie; 8 grandchildren, Megan MacArthur (spouse Cody), Ben, Aaron, Bethany, Jason (spouse Laura), Joseph, Annaliese, Will; and 6 great-grandchildren, Leighton, Colton, Breckyn, Audrey, Natalie, and Calum. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Elizabeth Spielman; and 7 siblings, Fabiola, Joe, Alice, Jack, Elaine, Mary, and his twin brother Bill.

A rosary service and funeral mass are to be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church at 1305 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93065 with the rosary service at 9:15 a.m. and the funeral mass at 10 a.m. Immediately following the mass at 12 p.m. the interment of Bob’s ashes with military honors is to be held at nearby Assumption Cemetery at 1380 Fitzgerald Road in Simi Valley, CA 93065. A reception will follow at the St. Rose of Lima church parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation, in Bob’s honor, to a Royal High School athletic program or to the Royal High School Choral program which his granddaughter (also an RHS teacher) taught for several years.