Robert "Bob" Potter passed away on April 29, 2025. He was born on January 26, 1936, in Lima, Ohio, to Aubrey and Miriam Potter, Bob's early years saw his family move to Sarasota, Florida, for his father's work and to be closer to relatives.

After attending military school, Bob joined the Navy. Following his service, he moved to Washington D.C., where he met his wife, Loretta Dial. They both worked for the government in D.C., Loretta at the CIA and Bob at the NSA. During this time, Bob also earned a degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.

Their family grew, and Bob embarked on a career in Data Processing. A move to Memphis, Tennessee, led to Bob and a college friend starting their own company called Cisco, a pioneering venture as computers were just beginning to enter the business world.

The family later moved to West Virginia and then back to Florida. Bob was a true entrepreneur, establishing several businesses ranging from computer processing to a trucking company.

In 1980, Bob and his family relocated to Sacramento, California, where their 20-year marriage eventually ended. Bob then moved to Salinas, where he met Alicia Gelabert. They were happily married for 18 years until her passing.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for waterskiing (he even did it professionally at Cypress Gardens in his younger years), snow skiing, hiking, traveling, and attending concerts. He was a devoted San Francisco 49ers fan, and CNN was often playing in the background. Above all, his greatest love was for his family. Bob was an incredibly giving father who would do anything for his daughters.

He is survived by his daughters, Jill Dorsey (Ed), Kathy Kaniff (Tom), and Laurie Smith (Bob); and his grandchildren, Nick Hernandez (Belen), Carly Lawrence (Nate), Benjamin Ashen, and Emma Dorsey.

In accordance with Bob's wishes, there will be no formal service. He simply wanted to be remembered with a smile when the 49ers are playing or when enjoying Thai food or McDonald's – some of the simple things that brought him joy.

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