Robert Bombaugh Obituary

I miss him every day. No more phone calls and no more Bombaugh humor which always made me laugh. We all love the Bombaugh repartee.

My condolences to Bob´s family. We have all lost a great guy and the world, an outstanding lawyer. I just learned of his death today as I was trying to arrange a visit to see him because I had just learned of the death of the love of his life, Joyce. I knew Bob well as we had been friends since 1960, working together at Michigan on the Law Review. I went to Jenner & Block in Chicago on graduation because Bob chose it. We started there together. Our wives, both named Joyce, were friends at Michigan, but they became even closer friends in Chicago as they tried to ease the frustration and aggravations Bob and I felt as associates. We finally became partners on the same day in 1970 and continued working together as partners for several years thereafter, sometimes even on the same cases. Bob was clearly a star and I envied and admired his abilities. He had an uncanny ability to get to the heart of any dispute almost immediately. And if there was a tough brief to be written, everyone chose Bob to be on their team as he seemed to be able to write winning briefs quickly, efficiently and on time, no matter what the dispute; a rare gift. After a few very successful years he left for the DOJ, to solve Immigration problems. He told me he left because it was a great opportunity to do something on his own. I always suspected he left Jenner & Block because he was bored. My wife and I visited he and Joyce many times in Washington and on two or three occasions spent time in his office It was literally humming with energy and purpose. He clearly loved that DOJ job and all the people in it.. With his generous personality went humor and the great intellect he used to create an extraordinary and efficient government law office of which he was very proud. I know his family know what a fine man he was, but I can add that he was also an amazing lawyer.

To the Bombaugh family- My sincerest sympathy. Bob hired me back in 1999 and was an excellent supervisor. He was both kind and good to me, and I was sad to see him retire. The world lost a kind soul.

We have lost a quiet powerful legal voice for justice and a beloved brother.

My brother, Bob was the best big brother a sister could have. He guided me through some rough times when I was a freshman at U of M and always spoke with humor, kindness, and respect. I learned from his long term loving devotion to his wife Joyce, that any relationship worth having was one of mutual respect, patience, problem solving, and a quiet persistent love that trans sends the hard times life often puts in our path. I will miss his humor, his wisdom, his moral, compassionate outlook on the world and his devotion to his family.

To the family of Mr. Robert Bombaugh, he hired me back in December of 1997 and was a great pleasure working under his leadership. He was a great example of a kind, gentle and respectful man and supervisor. I will keep your family in my prayers.

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.