Bob Brodersen celebrated at a birthday party organized by his past students. (Photo by Brian Pitts, 2018)
Bob Brodersen lived a spectacularly rich life, which included excelling as a researcher and teacher, entrepreneur, startup consultant, and much more. Bob served on the faculty at UC Berkeley from 1978 to 2006 in the department of electrical engineering and computer science, receiving many notable awards for his accomplishments. Never one to ignore new ideas, he continued to mentor students after his retirement through the Berkeley Wireless Research Center, which he helped found in 1998.
Bob was an avid adventurer. I remember him telling many incredible stories of remote and unique bike packing journeys throughout the world. His adventures with his wife, Shelagh, were absolutely legendary, filled with many turns, detours and surprises. The Conservancy was fortunate to have Bob as a volunteer ecological steward of some of Claremont Canyon’s finest habitats.
Garber Park, a stone’s throw from Bob and Shelagh’s home, was, and is, a veritable backyard preserve of coast live oak where sinuous old growth trees reach towards the sky above rich meadows of native plants such as ferns. This is where Bob loved to work.
The steep slopes of the park had always restricted access to the park and outdoor access was something Bob always championed. I can still hear him saying, with a friendly disarming chuckle, “Boy it sure would be nice to be able to hike around safely and enjoy this area without worrying about sliding down a steep hill.”
Bob’s interest in access soon turned to restoration once he realized the impact non-native species had on the park. Bob took on the seemingly impossible task of liberating Garber Park’s creek from invasive plants—especially overgrown Himalayan blackberry—from a riparian area that we now call “Bob’s Place.”
Bob and Shelagh Brodersen sitting underneath an old growth tree in Garber Park in 2016. Their impact continues through the Garber Park Stewards. (Photo by Lech Naumovich, 2016)
Beyond Bob’s Place, Bob volunteered thousands of hours for the benefit of Garber Park and Claremont Canyon—from opening up his cozy home hosting restoration courses and workshops, to supporting budding restoration professionals, to providing tools, snacks, and shelter to those eager to learn about Garber Park.
Bob passed away in February 2024 after a decade of battling cancer. He is sorely missed. He was a compassionate, kind, and thoughtful voice speaking for the woods and elevating the voices of those who love Claremont Canyon, the Oakland Hills, and the Bay for the enrichment it provides to so many people. Rest in peace.
