Bob Billingham was born in London, England in 1957.  He moved with his family in 1963 to Houston, Texas. In 1965 the family relocated to Portola Valley, California where he grew up. Bob attended Menlo High School in Atherton and was a student athlete competing in skiing, track, football and wrestling. He loved to hike and backpack in the Sierras and spent many summer days rafting down the Truckee River. During this time he was introduced to sailing, which would become his lifetime passion.

Bob graduated from Amherst College in 1981 with degrees in English and Geology. He began work as a soils engineer for construction projects and rapidly developed a career in construction management. He founded his own consulting company, ORep and built a successful project management career overseeing the design and construction of a wide range of large projects from residential and office high-rise buildings to high-end custom homes.

Bob had an accomplished sailing track record both as a competitor and in campaign management. Highlights of Billingham’s career are winning a Silver Medal representing the United States in Korea in 1988, crewing for John Kostecki in the Soling Class. He was also a member of the 1992 America’s Cup winning crew on Bill Koch’s America3 campaign. Bob is a five-time World Champion in Solings, Etchells, J-24’s and Maxi’s. He was also inducted into the Menlo School Athlete Hall of Fame and was named Yachtsman of the Year at the St. Francis Yacht Club in 2012.

Billingham served on the management side of the US Olympic Team for 20 years and was the Chief Operating Officer for Paul Cayard at both AmericaOne in the 2000 America’s Cup in Auckland and Artemis Racing for the beginning of AC34. Bob then transitioned into the role of San Francisco Infrastructure Manger for America’s Cup Race Management and Event Authority where he prepared the event facilities for the 34th America’s Cup. He had a long-standing commitment to excellence in the Americas Cup Campaigns.

Bob volunteered extensively for the St. Francis Yacht Sailing Foundation to support paraplegic and disadvanted youths.  Bob served on the Executive Committee of the US Olympic Sailing Committee, as CEO of the AmericaOne Foundation, and served on multiple US Sailing committees, including Chair of the Sailor Athlete Council.  The St. Francis B Buoy in San Francisco Bay was renamed in his honor on the night of March 25 at the St. Francis Sailing Foundation’s 2014 auction fundraiser.

Bob had a passion for life that was both contagious and inspiring.  He was an extremely bright, passionate man, full of life and with a great sense of humor and an amazing work ethic.  He enjoyed golf, skiing, wine and travel.  He was dedicated to his family and a great ambassador for the sport of sailing.  He touched the lives of many and left this world a better place. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his mother Margaret Billingham MD and father John Billingham, MD. He is survived by his wife Christine, daughter Briana, brother Graham, uncle Geoff and his nieces Caitlin and Megan, and nephew Cameron.