Robert Allen Alferes

Bobby was born to parents Robert (Bob) and Patricia (Pat) Alferes in Long Beach, California. The family moved to Foster Park, then Ventura. Bob and Pat had two children during the marriage, Bobby and his sister Brenda. When the marriage dissolved, Pat moved to Orange County. Bob subsequently remarried and had two children with his second wife, Merle, Kevin James Alferes, and Michelle Alferes-Chuning. Pat remarried and had two boys with Robert Manshack, Daniel Manshack, and Ronald Manshack. That marriage dissolved, and she raised her kids as a single parent. Later in life, she remarried Robert (Bob) Dunham and moved to Iowa.

Bobby was profoundly deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other, and was diagnosed with Aphasia and didn’t start school until 3rd grade. He attended The Speech and Language Institute until Junior High, where he was streamlined into Lampson Junior High School. He did well and was a good student. Enjoyed school, his teachers, and friends. When the family moved to Oakland in 1971, he was enrolled in Skyline High School, where he earned his High School Diploma.

Bobby attended church at Shiloh Christian Fellowship, where he enjoyed many activities. Everybody loved Bobby; he was a sweet guy, always willing to help with any project that came along. He was also a Boy Scout.

Bobby worked for George Oren Tires for a couple of years out of High School, bought himself a truck that he was so proud of. He worked a summer for Gourley Construction. Then went on to work for Carnation.

An incident that happened while Bobby worked for Gourley Construction, he saved a life. One of his co-workers was out on the frame of a roof, overlooking a cliff, when he had a mishap with a circular saw. He severed an artery in his leg. No one knew what to do! Bobby, without hesitation, climbed out there, used his bandana and used it as a tourniquet. The E.R. doctor attributed Bobby’s quick action, using the knowledge he had learned in Boy Scouts, to saving Gene’s life.

While attending Shiloh Christian Fellowship, Bobby helped run the soundboard during the church services. He was a natural, despite his hearing deficit. The Head Sound guy, Gary Kennings, told Bobby that he was one of the best at it.

With family and friends, Bobby could be spontaneous; if he suddenly decided it had been too long since he'd seen you, he could (and often would) show up at your doorstep without prior notice. Relatives could be both delighted and shocked by these actions. During one such pop-in visit a beloved aunt literally fell over backwards with surprise upon opening her front door, she hadn’t seen him since he was 10 years old and here is this grown man standing on her doorstep looking just like her former brother-in-law the last time she had seen him, years earlier! Undeterred, Bobby kept his sense of humor and continued his unscheduled drop ins.

As a favorite hobby, Bobby explored cars. He opened up and repaired auto engines without the need for a repair manual. His intelligence, curiosity and patience allowed him to do such tasks without any help.

Bobby met Cheryl, his life-partner of 32 years, through his best friend Paul Goodman. Cheryl moved up to Oakland to be with Bobby, where they had Michael. They moved to Southern California to be closer to Cheryl’s family, where they then had Thomas. He was a loving partner, father and a very humble man.

As a patient in the hospital and later in a board-and-care home, Bobby was described as being kind and gracious by the hospice care team. He always expressed his appreciation.

Bobby is survived by Cheryl Goodman, his life partner, his son Michael Alferes and Michael's fiancée Jessica DeLeon, his son Thomas Alferes, his grandson Joaquin Alferes, his sister Brenda Alferes-Anderson. his brother Ron Manshack, Uncle Dave Grimes, his stepmother-in-law Dr. Marie Torres, his brothers-in-law Christopher Champommier and Paul Champommier, his sister-in--law Carol Carvell, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, his cousins and life-long friends. He was pre-deceased by his parents Robert and Patricia Alferes-Manshack-Dunham, and his siblings, half-brother Daniel Manshack, half-brother Kevin Alferes and half-sister Michelle Alferes-Chuning and Uncles Joel Grimes, Johnny Alferes, Tony Alferes, and Joe Alferes.

Bobby was proud of his children and of their accomplishments. Michael obtained an advanced degree from the University of California, Berkeley and is Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst in the California Legislative Analyst's Office. Thomas has served in the United States Air Force for 8 years and is Flying Crew Chief for the USAF. Bobby established and maintained close family ties with Dr. Jean Champommier, father-in-law and Dr. Marie Torres, stepmother-in-law.

Bobby was able to have one last birthday this year; it was a few weeks before Christmas. In spite of his illness and prognosis, he cheerfully accepted greetings and balloon bouquets from the friends and family that went to see him. He was able to generate a smile, making a whimsical grin at one "smiley-face" balloon, bringing some laughter and cheer to his visitors.

Bobby's family and friends are grieving, yet we feel gratitude to have met him, and for having known him for more than 30 years. We hold him in loving memory.