Robert S. Lozano
July 4, 1934-Nov. 27, 2014
Butte Falls, Oregon
Submitted by Sarah Lozano Larson

Longtime Palo Alto resident Robert S. Lozano passed away peacefully from pleural mesothelioma at his cattle ranch in Butte Falls, Oregon, on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 27, 2014. Robert (known to family and friends as Bob) was born on July 4, 1934, in Palo Alto to Manuel and Emily Lozano. Bob attended Stanford Elementary School, Jordan Junior High School and was a member of the Palo Alto High School class of 1953. He received a Bachelor's of Art degree in studio art from San Jose State University in 1958. He served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Ord, from 1958 to 1960. After release from the U.S. Army, he spent a winter as a ski instructor at Dodge Ridge Ski Resort in the Sierra Nevada. He taught studio art and art history at Los Gatos High School from 1961 to 1985. He served as the head of the Art Department for much of his teaching tenure. The rural nature of the Santa Clara Valley had a profound influence on the trajectory of Bob's life. When he was young, he enjoyed riding his pony in the Stanford foothills. He often worked in the family's businesses located throughout the Bay Area. Bob, his brother, his father and several close family friends were avid bird and large game hunters and spent many memorable trips hunting in the Central Valley, Nevada and Mexico.

Bob married fellow artist and high school art teacher Judy Hanshue of Los Gatos on Dec. 19, 1964. From 1964 to 1971 they lived in Los Gatos. In 1968, they spent a year traveling through Europe on a teaching sabbatical. Bob and Judy hosted several shows featuring their artwork around the Bay Area in the 1960s and 70s. In 1971, they built a home in the Santa Cruz Mountains outside of Los Gatos. Their daughters, Sarah and Mandy, were born in 1975 and 1977, respectively. Their rural home served as an inspiration for their art and allowed them to keep several horses. Bob and Judy were also avid skiers and adventurers and enjoyed spending time with their family and friends at their Lake Tahoe cabin. In 1985, Bob retired from Los Gatos High School to fulfill his dream of owning and operating a working cattle ranch.

The Lozanos purchased a ranch outside of Butte Falls, Oregon, and moved their family to begin their second careers operating the JRL Ranch. They operated a cow-calf operation that focused on pasture-raised, grass-fed beef cattle in a holistically managed environment. The JRL Ranch received several awards, of which Bob was extremely proud: Producer of the Year by Western Ranchers Beef, Co-Operator of the Year by the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Co-Operator of the year by the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts. Starting in 2001, the Lozanos supported an Oregon State University Rangeland Resources Scholarship/Internship program, which allowed a college student the opportunity for hands-on ranching experience at the JRL Ranch each summer. Always an avid horseman, Bob enjoyed riding, working cattle and roping in the California Vaquero tradition. In recent years, he participated in many team roping competitions. Bob, Judy, Sarah and Mandy and their families also enjoyed traveling/trekking throughout the United States, Europe, North Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South America.

Bob is survived by his wife Judy Hanshue Lozano of Butte Falls, Oregon; his daughter Sarah Lozano Larson, son-in-law Ryan Larson, grandson Blake and granddaughter Scarlett of Encinitas, California; and daughter Mandy Lozano of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by his sister Shirley Lozano Klynn and her family of Palo Alto and Littleton, Colorado; and brother Manuel Lozano and his family of Portola Valley, Atherton, Encinitas and Pacific Palisades. This spring his ashes will be spread on "Horse Hill," where his special animals rest, where his daughter was married, where he'll have a 360-degree view of his beloved ranch and Mt. McLaughlin and where he'll be able to watch over and protect his family.

Tags: veteran, arts/media, teacher/educator, business