Obituary
Bob logged his “final flight” on March 12, 2022. He departed peacefully at his home surrounded by his family after a short battle with cancer at the age of 70.
Son of John Robert Bareggi and Ardis Maureen Vaughn, Bob was born in Crescent City, Ca at Seaside Hospital on April 21,1951, raised in Fort Dick, and graduated from Del Norte High School in 1969.
He spent his adolescent years with his cousins riding dirt bikes and helping his dad and uncle buck trees. When he wasn’t running amok, he showered his younger sister with love, protection, and all the fun banter he could muster.
During his high school years, he could be found washing airplanes and stashing away his lunch money, whatever he could do to get a “bird” in the air. Throughout his curriculum, he was very involved in the school’s aviation program where he flew under the wings of Mr. Keith Wise and Mr. Ardi Sveum as his flight instructors. Bob took his first solo flight at the eager age of 16.
After high school, Bob enlisted in the Air Force where he furthered his passion for aviation. While serving his country during the Vietnam War, he piloted in-flight refueling missions for the war pilots. Following his service, he began his corporate flying career in Redding, where he flew for Richard Brown (Brown Construction), Jamie Mazada (Jirmack Hair Products), Ed Ochenaro (Developer and President of North Valley Bank), and spent 10 plus years flying for Barr, Newland, & Sinclair Law Firm. It was during this time he met his wife, Sue, and married her a mere 6 weeks after their first date.
He dedicated the remaining 30 years of his aviation career to Westlog Aviation, which later became Cal-Ore Life Flight . He was indebted to spend his time in the field alongside his employers, friends, and mentors, Dan Brattain and Joe Gregorio. Throughout the decades, Bob achieved many ratings: Captain, Instrument Flight Rating (IFR), Airline Transport Pilot (ATP), Airframe & Powerplant (A&P), Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Director of Maintenance (DOM). During his tenure, he flew air ambulance missions, soloed countless pilots, and received the “Mechanic of the Year” award from the Oakland FAA Flight Standards District Office for all of No Cal. as the Director of Maintenance in 2015. Bob completed his legacy at Cal-Ore Life Flight in 2020 when he retired.
When Bob wasn’t flying or repairing aircraft, he enjoyed restoring antique cars, coin collecting, and playing the guitar & piano. He enjoyed hiking, fishing, and hunting. He found great joy in treating his friends and family with his homemade jerky.
Bob is survived by his spouse of 45 years, Sue, his three children, Dana (Brendan) Mowry of Medford, OR., Eric (Averen) Bareggi of Sacramento, CA., and Sabrina (John) Tarr of Dallas, TX. His six grandchildren, Savannah, Elijah, Everette, Ethan, Quinn and two great-grandchildren, Aiden and Elijah. He also leaves behind his mother, Ardis Vaughn, sister Gina Phillips, half-brother Bryon Vaughn, aunt Helen Brown, and his beloved lab, Abbey.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, John Robert Bareggi; uncle, Richard Manley Brown; aunt, Rena Kinion; stepfather, John Vaughn; granddaughter, Jessica Couch; and niece Dayleena Phillips.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children (donate.lovetotherescue.org or 2425 Stockton Blvd. Sacramento, CA. 95817) or Brookings Flying Club (17330 Parkview Dr. Hangar 6, Brookings, OR., 97415).