LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Glenn Jay Robak


August 16, 1943 - November 17, 2020

Glenn Robak passed away suddenly at age 77 in Houston, Texas. He was born in Richmond, Calif., to Joseph Robak Jr. and Bernice Robak. He was an avid Cal Bears fan, having attended University of California at Berkeley where he received a bachelor's degree and followed by a law degree. After university, Glenn met Carol Thompson (Robak) at the YMCA in Richmond and married in 1969. They moved to Moraga, Calif., where Glenn taught at Camino Pablo Elementary School for 35 years, He was devoted to his students and loved teaching academics and athletics to Moraga children.

Glenn was a devoted family man and loving husband to Carol Robak for 42 years until she passed in 2011. For the final two years of his life, he was a partner to Barbara Gorman. Glenn had many interests including lighthouses, antiques, crossword puzzles. travel, football, tennis, museums and galleries. He enjoyed cooking and often spent time exploring new recipes. Glenn enjoyed being in his workshop, calling it his "happy place." He was very handy with tools and enjoyed helping others with their household projects. Glenn had a strong spirit, a silly sense of humor, a loving/caring demeanor, and a love for life. He was always welcoming to everyone who walked into his life. He had a remarkable ability to lift your spirits so that you could thrive.

Glenn is survived by his children, Carrie Robak Gifford and her husband Michael Ryan Gifford, and Jason Robak and his wife Marianne Green Robak, and grandchildren, Joseph Robak and Caroline Robak. He is also survived by his sister Joan (Robak) Ostenberg and her husband Gary Ostenberg and their children Kevin, Richard, and Brian. He was an uncle to many nieces and nephews, close to many students in the Moraga community, and had many wonderful longtime friends. He will be deeply missed by family and friends. We are all forever changed by his presence in our lives. The family will be hosting a celebration of Glenn's life at a future date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Glenn may be made to the American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org, The Parish School at parishschool.org, or Assistance League Thrift Shop at the Wayside Inn, Lafayette, Calif.