A sixth-generation Santa Barbaran, Robert A. de la Torre passed away peacefully on Feb. 28, 2026, at the age of 87, at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, California.
He was born Robert Anthony de la Torre on April 3, 1938 to Joseph B. de la Torre and Mary (Encinas) de la Torre.
Robert’s great-great grandmother, Maria de los Angeles Cota, was the daughter of Don Pablo Antonio Cota, one of the founding officers to arrive in Santa Barbara in 1782.
Maria de los Angeles Cota was born in the Presidio in 1790 and later married Don Jose Joaquin de la Torre, a Spanish soldier who arrived in Santa Barbara with Father Junipero Serra traveling from Monterey, California, in 1801.
Loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, neighbor and friend, Bob de la Torre attended Harding Elementary School, La Cumbre Jr. High School, and Santa Barbara High School. He also took certificated courses in business management at UCLA.
After high school Bob started working for General Telephone Company.
In 1959 Bob married the love of his life Shirley Anne Belsaas in Santa Barbara, where they initially resided. After their first child Debbie was born, they moved to Lompoc in 1963. The family, which now included their youngest daughter Jill, moved to Camarillo in 1967.
Bob continued to work for the telephone company for over 38 years. He started as an assistant draftsman (manual version of engineering diagrams) and went on to various positions within the company, including but not limited to cable maintenance superintendent, network construction manager – facilities, network construction operations administrator, senior administrator division resources, and ended as a supervisor over most of Southern California.
Both Bob and Shirley traveled extensively for the next 13 years. Together they explored Spain, England, France, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Morocco, Canada, Mexico, and across the USA.
They also enjoyed discovering different types of cuisine with their close-knit Gourmet Group since 1996.
After his wife’s death in 2008 Bob continued to enjoy his grandchildren, travel, concerts and sports.
Bob never met a person he couldn’t talk with and would stop and pass the time with various neighbors and friends throughout his life.
In his early years he played sports of all kinds and passed that knowledge on to younger family members, neighborhood kids, and people in general. He was there for anyone who needed help.
Bob is survived by their daughters Debbie Dziuk (Marty) and Jill Lomeli; grandchildren Kyle, Connor, Carson, Shilo and Gavin; great grandchildren Nova, Xena and Lyra; sister-in-law Jackie de la Torre; and his niece and nephew and cousins. Uncle Bobby will be missed by many.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; sister Delia; brother Joseph R.; brother-in-law Yankee Breck; many cousins; and Bob and Shirley’s furry family.
There will be a service at 10 a.m. Thursday March 12 at Ivy Lawn Funeral Home, 1075 E. Daily Drive, Camarillo. Donut and coffee reception at 9 a.m. prior to the service. Following the service a private interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara.
In lieu of flowers please make donations available to:
Boys Town, 200 Flanagan Blvd., P.O. Box 6000, Boys Town, NE 68010-9988
Donate online at boystown.org/spring.