Robert Charles Grabowski

Robert "Bob" Charles Grabowski, 92, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025. He was born to Clara and Hans Grabowski on December 20, 1932, in Saginaw, Michigan. A creative child, Bob enjoyed music, art, and spending time with his sister, Ruth, and his many friends.

In high school, Bob worked at a local clothing store, paving the way for a lifelong love of style. Ever the snappy dresser, he believed that life, like fashion, was meant to be embraced with flair.

He graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Industrial Design. True to form, Bob made the most of his time at Michigan State, joining the Psi Upsilon fraternity and several choirs. Notably, in one weekend, he sang all four vocal parts—countertenor, tenor, baritone, and bass—in separate performances.

Following college, Bob was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and stationed in Washington, D.C. His years there were defined by bold firsts: earning his pilot’s license, discovering the transformative craft of jewelry-making, and purchasing the first of many sports cars—a British Triumph TR-3. These passions fueled a string of creative ventures, including acclaimed art galleries spanning Monterey, Ojai, and Santa Fe.

In 1960, Bob set out for the California coast, where he opened the first of his galleries on the Monterey Peninsula. There, he also applied his design talents to real estate, restoring more than two dozen homes throughout Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Pebble Beach—all guided by his trusty rule to never pay more than $5,000 for a property.

Of all his artistic endeavors, perhaps none were as personal or beloved as his custom jewelry—especially the rings he fashioned using the lost wax method and shaped in collaboration with each client. Every piece was a tribute to the uniqueness of others and to Bob’s enduring desire to create beauty in the small moments of everyday life.

Meeting Barbara in 1969—his soulmate and co-adventurer—marked the start of a new and profound journey. Their Ojai home became a haven for friends, artists, and seekers, each gathering infused with laughter, inspiration, and the magic of creative possibility. Yet perhaps the most enduring chapter of Bob and Barbara’s shared story was their spiritual odyssey. Inspired by their search for deeper meaning, Bob undertook ministerial studies, immersing himself in philosophy and the universal principles that would shape his later work. He journeyed widely, gathering spiritual insights from around the world, which he and Barbara channeled into founding a beloved spiritual community: the Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center in Sun Valley, Idaho. Their vision was not merely a congregation, but a home for anyone seeking belonging, healing, and inner light.

For his extraordinary spiritual leadership, Bob was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Centers for Spiritual Living—an honor that recognized his wisdom, compassion, and the many lives he touched through teaching, guidance, and example.

Above all, Bob’s life was marked by warmth, generosity, and the belief that possibility lives everywhere and in everyone. He inspired those around him to travel boldly, live creatively, and belong wholeheartedly. His laughter, love of beauty, and “right place, right time” optimism live on in the many lives he touched and in the art, stories, and memories he leaves behind.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, and was loved as a father by Thad, Melia, Betsy, Andy, and Dinah.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Bob by making a donation to Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center at https://www.lightonthemountains.org/.

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