Robert W. Bob Piwarzyk 1937 -2025Local News Obituaries 

Robert W. “Bob” Piwarzyk 1937 -2025

By Stephen Homan

Robert W. “Bob” Piwarzyk was born in October of 1937. He grew up in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He liked school, he liked sports, and he enjoyed ice skating, swimming, and skiing. Bob held the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of America.

In Bonny Doon, he is known as Bonny Doon Bob, Brickbat Bob, and Historian Bob. He has owned his acreage property and home here since 1974.

Bob attended the University of Massachusetts, on a full tuition scholarship, graduating in engineering. After college, he joined the U.S. Marines, committing to three years of service. He became an officer and a pilot. He flew jet planes, broke the sound barrier, and has landed on aircraft carriers. At the end of his service, Bob resigned his commission and was given an honorable discharge. He was ready for new experiences.

After marriage, Bob and his wife bought a VW Bug that was delivered in Germany, and they spent a year camping and touring in Europe. 

He did important work as a flight test engineer for McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft. He also had duties preparing for the Apollo moon missions. He was involved in modifying a C-133 aircraft to take the Apollo spacecraft high into the atmosphere for testing. 

Bob’s wife discovered Bonny Doon while he was doing some temporary organizational work with the Society of Flight Test Engineers, in St. Louis. She facilitated the purchase of their small house on remote acreage as a getaway, since they were living in southern California, near their employment. They later divorced, and Bob became a resident of Bonny Doon.

Bob became aware that there were historic lime kilns in the Laguna Creek canyon, near his Bonny Doon property. That historic site sparked a lifelong interest in lime kilns, lime quarries, firebricks, local history, and natural history. He has written and co-authored many books and articles on these subjects.

When Bob was living full time here in Bonny Doon, he was offered a position as Assistant City Engineer and Assistant Public Works Director for the City of Scotts Valley. He worked for the City for seven years, and then left to pursue other interests. Bob was instrumental in private and public project review, sewer system improvements, and in coordinating the City’s traffic light system. 

After leaving the City, Bob worked as a Docent Trainer, Docent Leader, and as a Mapmaker for the State Parks System, both here in Santa Cruz County and also in Mendocino County. Bob also did some engineering consultant work for Bowman and Williams, Civil Engineers and Surveyors.

Bob also has been instrumental in the restoration of the Davenport Jail. He has led many tours of the jail, which serves as a mini-museum of Davenport history. He has enjoyed working with his Davenport friends on this endeavor.

Bob volunteered as a docent at Henry Cowell State Park, Big Basin State Park, and the Rancho Del Oso Unit of Big Basin Park, in addition to his volunteer work in Mendocino County at Hendy Woods State Park.

Bob and his co-author friends were instrumental in facilitating the formation of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District at UCSC. Bob is a member of the Friends of the Cowell Lime Works, and Researchers Anonymous.

Bob maintained close ties to local historians at the Capitola Museum, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, the Felton Museum, and the Boulder Creek Museum.

Bob attended the Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church for many years, and he greatly enjoyed singing both bass and tenor in the choir.

Bob has written or co-authored the following books and articles:

Lime Kiln Legacies: The History of the Lime Industry in Santa Cruz County (co-author)
The Limekilns of Pogonip
The Laguna Limekilns
Animals of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Discover Fall Creek, A Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods Since 1972
Valley of Redwoods, a Guide to Henry W. Cowell State Park
Davenport Cement Plant Centennial (2006) (co-author)
Bonny Doon Property Owners Map of 1905
The Bricks of Santa Cruz

Bob has been an amazing asset and friend to the communities of Bonny Doon, Davenport, the San Lorenzo Valley, and the County of Santa Cruz.

Stephen Homan is a Bonny Doon resident. 

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