Thanks for reminding us. Bob remains in our memories forever. This is a wonderful way to acknowledge that. God bless you, Jan and family.

Henry and Micki

Today we would have been celebrating Bob's 76th birthday. I wish he were here so we could get together with family and friends to honor the occasion. We miss you, Bob!!!

Today is Bob's birthday! He would've been 74. We miss you, Bob!!

Hoping you found peace this past year with all your happy memories.

For Bob's wife and family: As a young woman I worked with Bob at HP. In a hallway conversation one day he taught me one of the most important lessons of my professional career. He taught me that, in addition to looking at what needed to be improved, I needed to be able to see what was working, what should not be broken in the fix, what was already perfect. I've applied that to all areas of my life. With gratitude. And a prayer.

Jan,

I want to extend my condolences to you and your family.

I was keenly interested in Bob's work at HP--and his focus on process, structure, and standards. The output of his efforts was consistently compelling. I carried one of his slides around for 20 years and it never failed me, not once.

Please forgive the lateness of my response to your message. My father passed away just before Bob's death, and I was in the mid-west with my family when I read your sad news.

One of the speakers at David Packard's memorial service said that the world was diminished by his departure from our midst. And so it goes for Bob as well.

With my deepest sorrow,

Jan Stambaugh

Jan - Though I never met you, I wanted to drop a note to say how much I enjoyed knowing Bob. He was a very successful author, as you know, and I was his editor at the time his books were published. He was a pleasure to work with and someone I always enjoyed talking to. My condolences to you and your family. May your memories give you peace and comfort.

Jan, I'm so sorry for your loss. Bob was a brilliant, thoughtful, talented man and I was privileged to publish his book with HP Books and Prentice Hall. When he'd stop by my desk to chat the conversation always included you and a new adventure the two of you were planning. He would be so proud of the beautiful service you put together yesterday! My prayers are with you and your family.

Dear Jan and family,
So very sorry to hear of your loss. In nearly every conversation I had with Bob, he mentioned how much he appreciated being with family. He always cherished time with you.
I had the very good fortune of serving as editor for the book, Software Metrics. Bob, Deborah, and I shared many conversations about that book that they constantly wanted to make the most valuable book of its kind. They certainly succeeded. After the book published Bob invited me to attend a game of basketball he played in during an MIT reunion. I lived in Plymouth, MA at the time and was delighted to attend. During that game I saw that Bob exhibited that same determination, diligence, and love for the pursuit of something in basketball just as he did with writing. 
I only wish I had save the original peer reviews of that manuscript. Bob's peers commented on how excellent the metrics were and how fine the writing.  From the little I got to know Bob, he certainly loved engineering and writing. But he loved his family most of all. I hope that the many wonderful memories may help to blunt the pain of your deep loss.

May Christ's Peace be with you.
John

Dear Bob,

Our lives intersected for over 53 years....Sig Ep comptroller, Alaskan king crab, your wedding, Yosemite, Little Yosemite, Rock Creek, Red Rock Canyons, Minarets, Mammoth, Paris, Dijon, London. Then also, Erin's collapsing bicycle seat and the countless Thanksgivings, Christmas's, New years, Birthdays and anniversaries. You will be terribly missed.

Sorry we could not say goodbye. Thanks for the wonderful memories.

John and Sally

It was a privilege to travel with you Jan & Bob earlier this year.  We will remember Bob as a kind and talented man, quick-witted, enjoying the adventure and the comraderie of the group, always smiling and interested in other people, art and cultures, We are so sorry for your loss and pray you find comfort in all the memories you created together.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Jan. I have many fond memories working with Bob as my first HP project manager (the Atlas compiler) in 1973. Having just moved to the Bay Area , we were also impressed by our introduction to California wine-tasting at your home! ... and I remember well how much Bob enjoyed camping at Yosemite.

Thinking of you in your sorrow, Jan. He sounded like an extraordinary man, artist, partner and friend. My heart aches for your loss. Saying prayers and wishing you peace.

To Bob: who was capable, smart, talented and most of all, the perfect complement to our dear Jan and children. My last conversation with Bob was at their home around 2000, where he wisely counseled, "exercise any HP options now." I wish I had.
My prayers are with your family. God bless.

"Jan & Family;

I am sorry for your loss and my prayers are with you and your family. I remember all the team lunches and BBQs at your home.

Jan and family,

Bob is indelible in our memory, as a fraternity brother and roommate, talented athlete, loving husband and father, softball and hot tub teammate when we lived briefly in the Bay area in 1977, and a gentle soul who painted compulsively and creatively. We have lost him in a human sense but he will always be with us in a spiritual sense. May God bless and keep us all while we grieve and treasure his life.

Henry and Micki Nau

Jan,

I was so sad to hear of Bob’s recent and sudden passing. I can only begin to imagine the shock and loss you are experiencing. I think fondly of your annual staff Christmas parties, and Bob’s enthusiastic participation with our team.

Thanks for including me in your message.

My thoughts are with you and your family. 

Chuck

Dear Jan & Erin,
How so sad I was to hear about your loss. Bob was such a kind & gentle man who loved sharing his love of your family and all your adventures.
The Bible tells us that Jesus has prepared a room for us in heaven (John14:2.) I can already see Bob painting beautiful pictures for the walls, getting it ready for the time you are all united in heaven!

Jan, Scott and I send our deepest sympathies. Scott especially remembers playing basketball on Bob's team. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Jan & Family;

I am sorry for your loss and my prayers are with you during this time. Those of us who were a part of your team Jan, enjoyed the many occasions that Bob joined us for our group meetings at your home. Bob was a really good guy and a leader among those at HP.

Jan -- I'm so sorry for your loss.  You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Jan, my deepest condolences to you and your family. So sorry.
Terry Schwab

Deepest sympathy to your family. May you find peace in your wonderful memories with Bob.

Bob was a wonder. He was the magician of metrics and the creator of beauty. He taught me to look at both the glass empty and the glass full. We worked so many times on the Goal-Question-Metric paradigm that it became a part of my fabric. I have used his thinking so many times in strategy for businesses, guidelines for start-ups and coaching for careers. We had a ball creating a new approach to metrics in corporations. But when he left, he left. The world of painting awaited him and he and Jan pursued it with diligence and awe. I once asked him if he would come talk to my students… and his reply was “do they want to understand the opportunity that painting brings? Then I am there for you.” Such clarity and focus was always his talent. He was a beacon in the world of improving software processes and helping teams improve. For himself, he found a world in the paintings of his heart. I have attached a comment from a scholar who truly valued Bob’s contribution in the world of software management and yet he moved into creating what his heart felt. He was a good friend, a compatriot in work, and a treasure to behold. I will miss him. Not only do I admire him, but here is what a colleague said:

New Directions for Software Metrics : Norman Fenton
        Agena Ltd and Queen Mary University of London
Keynote Talk:
CIO Symposium on Software Best Practices,
Savoy Hotel
27 September 2006

"During the 1990s I wrote a book on software metrics that has sold over 30,000 copies worldwide. I’ll have something more to say about this book shortly. But certainly one of the best books on software metrics was written by Bob Grady of Hewlett Packard in 1987. Bob was responsible for what I believe was recognised as the first true company-wide metrics programme. His book described the techniques and experiences associated with that at HP.
A few years later I was at a meeting where Bob told an interesting story about that metrics programme. He said that one of the main objectives of the programme was to achieve process improvement by learning from metrics what process activities worked and what ones didn’t. To do this they looked at those projects that in metrics terms were
considered most successful." 

Bob always wanted to focus on how to succeed and feel good in what you contributed.

Professor Fenton believed what we all have learned to believe that Bob was a visionary and an artist. It was a pleasure and a delight to work with him.  He will be missed in many ways.

"I never met Bob, but his work was well-known and well-respected in my Atlanta software team. He embodied the HP Way at its best, and left everyone with a higher standard to follow. He made a difference."

Jan,

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I always let people know the words of Isaiah 43:1-4 where the prophet reminds us: "I have called you by name, you are mine, you are precious in my sight and I love you. May those words of promise uphold you and embrace you as you celebrate Bob's life. I saw the depth of your love for each other at our 50th class reunion.

Howie Skulstad

Jan, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are will you. Georgia (Brennan) Anderson

Jan,
I worked with Bob at Data Systems. I remember him as being a kind and thoughtful person who enjoyed his family and life. We had a lot of laughs during that time. He spoke of you often and was a real role model for me even though I was older then him. 

After he retired we exchanged a few emails and I moved to SOCAL. He will be missed. My condolences to you and the children.

Dear Jan and family: my sincere sympathy to you on the death of Bob. Your photo gallery and notes from friends seem to reflect deep love and a richly rewarding life well-lived. Thoughts and prayers are with you, Dorothy Knutson Ellerbroek

Jan...my deepest sympathy to you and your family. This is a most difficult time for you but understand that the many good memories you had with Bob will sustain you during this difficult time. Darrel Bjornson

I loved following your adventures and travels on Facebook. How full your life together was. My thoughts are with you all.

Shirley and I always enjoyed Bob's friendly encouragement at his daily swimming exercise.He was always so upbeat

What laughs we used to have over... software metrics! Working with Bob, with his enthusiasm for his work and his sense of humor, was always a pleasure. He was his own person, not cast in the mold of the typical software engineers or software managers he worked with. That was always refreshing.

I grew up considering Bob a part of my family (and myself as a part of his!) - he was always so kind, patient and welcoming and I always enjoyed spending time with him. It's hard to imagine Thanksgiving without being greeted at the door with a big hug from Bob followed shortly by a brandy alexander. When I started bringing my fiance to holiday events, Bob welcomed him without question and Jose instantly loved and respected him. I will miss his warm presence and support, and I know that he touched many in the same way. Thank you for everything, Bob, I love you.