MCDERMOTT, Robert William

Daily Press (Victorville CA) Tuesday, July 17, 2012 Robert William McDermott passed away on July 11, 2012, after a brief illness and suurounded by dear family members. Bob was born on January 19, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan, to Mavis and William NcDermott and was the middle child of three children. 1947 saw the family traveling west in search of a drier climate to help ease his mother's challenge of coping with asthma while raising three small children. Their car took them as far as Wickenburg, Arizona, before requiring rather drastic maintenance. While working part-time jobs and waiting for their car repairs to be completed, the small family discovered they truly liked Wickenburg and decided to stay, not for three weeks but for three years, with a brief stay in Yuma, Arizona. 1950 saw the McDermott's move once more to their final destination of San Diego, California, in pursuit of better employment for William. Future moves for the McDermott family also included short stints in Japan and Hawaii when Bob was a teenager and when his father worked as a turbine field engineer for the U.S. Navy, but always returning to San Diego. As a young adult, Bob enrolled at the Police Academy through Southwestern College in San Diego, California. Upon graduation, his new job as a police officer took him to Chula Vista, California, where he met his future bride, Judith Lynn Harris, in 1971 during a routine traffic stop. Fate intervened again when the two met once more at the hospital where Judi was a nursing student. They began dating and were married on June 25, 1972, in Chula Vista, California. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they began their family with Jason, who arrived in 1973, followed by William, who arrived in 1976, and then by Katherine, who arrived in 1977. During this time, Bob continued working for the Nevada Highway Patrol until 1978. A desire to return to California saw the family move to Chula Vista, then to San Jacinto, and finally to the High Desert, while Bob continued his career in law enforcement. After 24 years as a police officer, however, Bob was anxious to begin a new career, joining Crestview Cadillac as their Finanace Manager in 1989. Bob worked for Crestview Cadillac for over ten years enjoying the challenges of the car business and finance. After retiring from Crestview Cadillac, he moved to Spring Valley Lake, California, where he lived until his death. Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed a number of hobbies that included fishing, skiing, boating, shooting, reading, politics, and auto racing. His love of his family was evidenced in many ways, from his coaching of Little League teams, to his support of Jason and Bill in their sports endeavors (including bringing potato salad and fried chicken to all of their go-kart races!) to his enthusiastic assistance of Katie during her criminal law research while she was enrolled in college. This love of family extended to grandchildren and a new daughter-in-law as well, all of whom will remember his generosity of self and time, his sense of fun and the twinkle in his eye when telling or hearing a good joke. Bob's love of his two golden retrievers, Connor and Bella, was second only to his love of family. Bob is survived by former wife, Judi Harris McDermott; his three children, Jason, Bill and Katie and their spouses and children; his sister Mavis and brother Mike. A memorial service will be held at the Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Apple Valley, CA, on Monday, July 16, 2012, at 5:00pm.