Robert Terriere

Dr. Robert or ""Bob"" as he was affectionately known to his Friends and family was born in Seattle, WA. on July 17, 1926 to Theodore and Alta (McFadden) Terriere. He was raised in Lead, South Dakota where his father worked as a miner in the Homestake Gold Mine. In 1941, just prior to the beginning of the war, his family purchased an avocado-citrus grove and moved to Fallbrook, California. Bob kept busy in his spare time working in the grove. Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps upon his high school graduation in 1944. He completed basic training at Biloxi, Mississippi and was then sent for further training to the Air Corps Gunnery School at Las Vegas, Nevada. When World War 2 ended and he was honorably discharged from the service, Bob began his college education. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Cal Tech in 1949 and went on to receive a Master of Science degree in geology from Penn State University. Bob's first job was with the United States Geological Society in Texas. At that time he also completed the requirements for his advanced degree at the University of Texas. Subsequently he transferred to the USGS in Denver where he met his wife, Betty (Safstrom). They married in 1958 and moved to Tulsa where Bob worked for Cities Service Oil Company in the research lab. During his time Bob finished his thesis and obtained his PhD from the University of Texas in1960. Bob spent his entire career with Cities Service (which later became Occidental Petroleum), researching oil exploration internationally as well as domestically. For several years he enjoyed conducting summer schools in the coral reefs off the coast of Belize. In 1978 he and the family moved to Denver where he was involved in oil exploration in Southwestern U.S. After retiring in the mid-eighties Bob and Betty traveled extensively taking many tours with Elder Hostel in various parts of the world. Bob was active in Kiwanis as a member of the Golden K Foothills group. He enjoyed repairing bikes for underprivileged children as well as participating in other Kiwanis service projects. He was a Fellow in the Geological Society of America. Bob was a lover of music and enjoyed playing in the band from his high school days on through college and later in various community bands. At home he played the piano. Always a sports fan, Bob was an avid golfer continuously seeking to improve his game. In the winter he looked forward to skiing. He enjoyed bowling as well but bridge was his all-time favorite activity and fortunately he was able to continue playing as his strength weakened. He was a life-long Methodist; in later years becoming a member of the Lakewood United Methodist Church. In 1994 Bob was diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myocitis, a rare, incurable, muscle-destroying disease. He remained as physically active as possible as the disease slowly claimed his muscles. Bob was a kind and gentle man, looked up to by all who knew him, the bad as well as the good. Dr. Terriere was preceded in death by his parents and his infant son Andrew. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty, his daughter Betsy Terriere and her sons Jacob (Leslie) and Will Niedens and a great grandson, Brayden all of Wichita, Kansas and by his son Fred Terriere and his grandson Ryan of Fallbrook, Ca.