Robert Putnam Will

He was born on August 7, 1931 in Los Angeles, where he grew up in San Fernando. He married his childhood sweetheart, Jean Marie Brown, in 1951. They were married 69 years until her death in 2020.

Bob’s career was as a legislative representative for water and natural resource issues in Washington, DC and Sacramento, CA. In particular, he made lasting contributions to safeguarding Southern California’s water supply for future generations.

He had a lifelong love of the outdoors, most especially the Sierra Nevada. As a boy, he camped and backpacked there with his parents and brothers. Later, as a father, he introduced his own family to his love of the mountains.

In his retirement he was an avid supporter of live classical music, live theater and Mexican folkloric dance in his adopted hometown of Escondido. In this regard, he was a staunch supporter of the California Center for the Arts, Escondido as well as a longtime board member.

Bob and his wife Jean were founders of the Jean Will Strings program in the Escondido public school system. This ongoing program, now called Allegro, provides violin instruction and promotes classical music appreciation to underserved elementary school children.

Bob was the original and principal supporter of the very successful Intimate Classics series (classical chamber music) at the California Center for the Arts.

He had a strong interest in U.S. and California history and served as a volunteer and head of the Pioneer Room, a historical preservation project of the Escondido Public Library.

He is survived by his four children: Robin Will, Linda Staton, Sharon Will and Bruce Will, all of California; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the California Center for the Arts Foundation Charitable Trust would be appreciated. Address:

CCAEF Charitable Trust

970 W. Valley Parkway #407

Escondido, CA 92025