May 2, 1933 – April 19, 2019

Bob McConnell passed away April 19 after a brief hospital stay, just two weeks shy of his 86th birthday.

Bob was born May 2, 1933, to Olive and Grenfall McConnell. He attended Oakland High School and the University of California, Berkeley, leaving Cal in 1954 to join the Air Force. After graduating from pilot training, he attended officer training in Bainbridge, GA. It was during his assignment in Libya that he met his “first love” — a 1931 Fiat sports roadster that he restored, instilling a lifelong love of antique cars.

After being stationed in Libya and Japan, as well as Michigan, Arizona, Florida, and New York, he was honorably discharged in 1968 at the rank of captain with over 8,000 hours in the B-57.

He returned to the Bay Area, employed by Pan American World Airways as a flight engineer. It was through his participation with the Mid-Peninsula Old Time Auto Club that he met the second love of his life, Sandy, in 1973; the couple wed in 1974.

They bought their forever home in Los Altos in 1975 and spent many years transforming the single story ranch house into a New England saltbox, completing nearly all of the work themselves over many years. The home, with it’s extensive gardens, has been the setting for family gatherings ever since.

Upon retiring from Pan Am after 17 years of flying 707s and 747s, Bob focused on several real-estate ventures, including an apartment complex in Mountain View and a Laundromat in Milpitas, which has since been built up to four locations throughout the South Bay, and on his various hobbies.

Bob collected, restored, and drove many antique cars, including five 1920s Model T Fords, a 1931 Buick, a 1935 Chevrolet, a 1947 Ford Cabover truck, and his 1931 Fiat roadster. The couple enjoyed traveling and toured much of the West Coast with various antique car clubs.

As a lifelong bird fancier, Bob raised Birmingham Roller pigeons and many other kinds of birds. He also enjoyed gardening and was a self-taught carpenter, electrician, and plumber. He enjoyed skiing and camping with family and friends.

In 1990, the couple purchased a lot on Donner Lake and designed a six-bedroom “cabin,” which was Bob’s home away from home for nearly 20 years.

Bob was an active member of Los Altos United Methodist Church for 40 years and made many close friends there. He is survived by his wife Sandy, his sons and daughters-in-law, Dan & Chris Pitchford-Luke, Larry & Renee Sanguinetti, and Ken &Maricar McConnell; and grandchildren Dylan, Collin & Ella McConnell, and Genevieve Sanguinetti. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, known as “Grenny.”

A celebration of his life will be held on May 11 at 3 p.m. at Los Altos United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Yosemite Conservancy: Yosemiteconservancy.org