Obituary of Robert Galen Jackson

ROBERT GALEN JACKSON, 69, of Cloverdale, California, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness on October 30, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California.  Robert (“Bob”) was born in Long Beach, California to Arthur Galen Jackson and Virginia Elizabeth Graves on July 1, 1949.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marjorie Jackson (Oleyar), and son Brent Jackson, of Cloverdale; brother Jeffrey Hyatt (Bonnie), mother Virginia Hyatt, niece Angie Hyatt (Brady), nephew Brayten Hyatt, and two grandnephews, all of Cedar City, Utah.  He is preceded in death by his father Arthur Jackson, and his step-father Ardell Hyatt.

Bob spent his early years in Long Beach, where he first began studying trumpet at age ten.  The support of his step-father Ardell, an amateur trumpeter, was a key influence in Bob’s decision to pursue trumpet studies.  After the family moved to Orange County, he graduated from Valencia High School in Placentia, California in 1967.  During his high school years Bob was a leader in the concert, marching, and pep bands.  For several years he studied trumpet under Dr. Lester Remsen, the founder of the Los Angeles Brass Society.  Bob went on to study music history at California State University (CSU), Fullerton, during which time he founded the Orange County Brass Quintet and performed as a free-lance classical trumpeter in southern California.  In his college years he studied with various trumpeters associated with the Los Angeles studios and the Philharmonic.  In 1972 he and Marjorie traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, where Bob played trumpet in the Cape Town Symphony.

After returning to southern California, Bob earned a B.A. with a double major in History (emphasis World War II) and Political Science from CSU Fullerton in 1977, and a J.D. in 1981 from Western State University, College of Law.  During this time Bob worked as a law clerk and several years as the executive director of the College Legal Clinic based at CSU Fullerton.  After some years spent in political campaign management, Bob and Marjorie moved to Sonoma County in 1983.  He pursued a long career in the wine industry, selling premium wines in northern California, Canada and Europe, and managing tasting rooms for Mauritson, Taft Street, Chateau St. Jean, Benziger, Fetzer, and Souverain.  He interrupted his wine career only for a short time to work as a chef, owner and operator of a small family deli and restaurant business in southern Utah.

After retirement from the wine business, Bob returned to the trumpet and spent several enjoyable and fulfilling years participating in many classical music groups, including the Sonoma State University (SSU) Brass Ensemble, the SSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Copeland Creek Brass, Santa Rosa Chamber Orchestra, Sonoma Philharmonic, and Santa Rosa Junior College Orchestra.  His influence as a mentor was felt by many young musicians during this time of his life.

Throughout his life, Bob had many fields of interest that he pursued with passion.  In addition to his chosen careers, he cultivated a serious appreciation for Big Band era, Swing and Jazz music, ballet, opera, classic movies, baseball, and model railroading.  He will be missed by many for his big, lovable, funny, and generous nature.