Robert “Bob” Des Jardins, 69, of Vero Beach, passed away on Feb. 23, 2016.
He is survived by his wife Deborah V. Johnson, step-son Bryan Johnson, his twin son Jeffrey Michael Des Jardins and daughter Julie Diane Moorehead (Des Jardins). They anchored his life and gave him the freedom to live it. Without them, always at the center of his being, his life would have been little more than a vapor. Deborah loved him with all his flaws, and in her the concept of endless love could find no better example.
He is also survived by his sister Patricia Ann Smith of Vero Beach, Fla; two older brothers, John Andrew Des Jardins of Philadelphia, Penn., and Edward Joseph Des Jardins of Georgetown, Mass. His older brother Ed was his friend, his confidant, and, more often than either of them would like to admit, his dads’ replacement.
Des Jardins, a.k.a. “Pop Pop” and “Grand Pw” was born Jan. 14, 1947, at St. Clair’s Hospital in New York, N.Y.
Having moved to Maine as an infant, Des Jardins graduated from Bucksport High School, Bucksport, Maine in 1965 at which time he joined the U. S. Air Force. After receiving an honorable discharge from the U. S. Air Force in 1968 he moved to Houston, Texas to begin a career in the petrochemical industry.
He was always proud of being an adopted Texan (1968-2013) and a U. S. Air Force Vietnam Veteran (DaNang Vietnam 67-68). His mother, Helen Mary Des Jardins (Palko), loved him very much and supported all his dreams. She taught him the value of hard work, good manners, courtesy, and that some of the happiest times in life are with family, friends and those you love.
His father, Albert Des Jardins was missing from his life due to a divorce when he was very young. Des Jardins always felt he missed out on the father son relationship during his younger years.
His children made him immensely proud; Jeff a career U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, and Julie a Nurse Practitioner. Their dedication to improving our species and making the world a better place gave him hope for the future. Everyone deals with grief differently, and they should each manage it as they see fit. Des Jardines hopes, however, that they will grieve his passing only as long as necessary and remember the happy times that life gave us together. Deborah was especially dedicated as his spouse and especially through these last months.
Numerous family members and many devoted friends also survive him. He loved them all, and he knows they loved him.
Des Jardins was fortunate enough to earn his living doing what he loved. He was a Chemical Plant Safety Engineer retiring from Occidental Chemical Company, Houston, Texas in 2009 after more than 40 years of dedicated service, something he was very proud of. He had a passion for his work. Without his exceptional teachers, fellow workers, supervisors and dedication to hard work he wouldn’t have had much of a career. He considered himself a very lucky man in every way.
He has requested no services; he wants everyone to remember him during happier, cheerful times. Bob always said “some of the happiest days of my life were fishing on his boat on Galveston Bay” where his ashes will be sprinkled.
Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory is handling arrangements.
