Robert G. Bailey

Robert G. Bailey passed away January 14, 2019. Robert, known as Bob to friends, was a remarkable man known for his passion and intellect. He was a world-renowned geographer who served 53 years with the US Forest Service.
Bob's work for the Forest Service began in 1966 on the San Dimas Experimental Forest near Los Angeles. In 1971, he earned his PhD in Geography from UCLA. His career ultimately took him throughout the West, before landing him in Fort Collins in 1978.

During his early career, Bob's work was considered crucial to the battle to save the extraordinary water clarity of Lake Tahoe. Later, Bob developed an ecosystem mapping and land classification system that became well known by geographers and ecologists throughout the world. His system guided land management decisions by the Forest Service and was adapted as the primary land management and conservation model for other state and federal agencies and conservation groups. He worked with groups in several foreign countries to help develop national systems based on his principles and methods. He also published four books on eco-geography, with one forthcoming, and numerous influential professional journal articles. Bob received several awards and honors for his work both in the US and abroad. Although he retired a few years ago, Bob continued to work as an Emeritus Scientist for the Forest Service.

Bob loved taking to the open road to explore the physical and cultural geography of the US. He particularly loved the grasslands of the Great Plains and the geomorphic and cultural history of the Southwest. In his later years, he frequently explored places like New Mexico and Arizona with his partner of 16 years, Veronica Lim. Together they traveled to the bottom of the Grand Canyon numerous times. He was also an avid outdoorsman and student of American history, often spending weekends hiking, snowshoeing or exploring wildlands and historic sites with friends and his daughter Laura and grandson Matthew. Those who traveled with Bob were always treated to special lessons about geography, ecology and history.

Well known by friends and colleagues for his knowledge of "old things," Bob was a lifelong train buff, and a VW bug and Model A car enthusiast. Bob also spent time advocating for historic neighborhood preservation in Fort Collins and restoring his 1922 bungalow home to it craftsman style origins. He was particularly interested in the role of smaller, older homes in promoting sustainable living. He put this passion into words by regularly writing about sustainable bungalow living for the architectural magazine American Bungalow.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Laura Bailey, his grandson Matthew Bailey-Rodriguez, his partner Veronica Lim, his sister Marilyn Bailey, his former wife and friend Loretta Bailey and his half-sister Susan Bailey. His parents Gale Bailey and Barbara Allen and his beloved son Matthew G. Bailey predeceased him. He also leaves behind numerous friends and colleagues across the country and around the world to mourn his loss. Bob will be buried alongside his son Matt at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.

Robert Bailey was a man of honor, principle, and integrity. He will be remembered for a life of great accomplishment, tenacity and intellectual curiosity.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, 1/22/19 at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, Fort Collins, followed by interment at Grandview Cemetery.

Contributions in Bob's memory may be made to the Matthew G. Bailey Scholarship Fund at the Department of Geography, Arizona State University, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524.