Robert Matheson

The world lost a bright, shining light on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 when Robert John Matheson ("Bob") passed away after a brief illness. Bob was born in Bay City, Michigan on June 23rd, 1939 to Lorne & Agatha Matheson. The family moved to Boulder in 1951 when the elder Matheson was sent by Dow Chemical to establish Rocky Flats and where Bob began attending 7th grade.

Bob attended Boulder High School and excelled academically winning multiple awards and graduated as class Valedictorian in 1957. As a National Merit Scholar, he had a choice of multiple universities but chose the University of Colorado where he earned degrees in physics and electrical engineering.

He started his career with the National Bureau of Standards' Central Radio Propagation Laboratory doing radio systems research. In 1965, CRPL was renamed the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences and Aeronomy (ITSA) and Bob was soon ITS' Group Chief of the Spectrum Management group where he developed, designed and operated state-of-the-art spectrum measurement systems. He traveled the country extensively to identify sources of radio interference that threatened the operation of systems vital to national security. Bob encouraged junior staff members to increase their skills through additional academic studies, peer-reviewed papers, and leadership roles. He received multiple awards as a leader of ITS including multiple Dept. of Commerce performance medals and retired in 2006 after 47 years of government service.

In 1969, Bob and his former wife Gail commissioned Boulder architect Charles Haertling to design his home atop Davidson Mesa overlooking the Front Range/Flatirons and the City of Boulder. The home became a place of many social gatherings following Bob's marriage to his beloved Ester in 1991. He enjoyed gardening, traveling the world, and dancing the night away with Ester and their many friends. In 2020, they moved to Frasier Retirement Community where they found a new community and made many new friends.

He was a choir member at Atonement Lutheran Church for many years. Bob was a generous, dedicated, and faithful family man who loved life, loved people, and loved his community. He cherished his grandchildren, and his inner child came out when children were around. He had this sparkle in his eyes and an easy smile that lit up the room. He enjoyed long philosophical conversations and sharing his knowledge of radio spectrum management (and that helped put babies to sleep, too...!)

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Lorne and Agatha, his sister Kathy Huckfeldt and brother Lorne. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Ester Matheson, his son, Victor Matheson (Jolie), stepson Edward Querfeld (Angela), and grandchildren Lara, Aly, Jensen, and Ana.

Services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Boulder on November 29th at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Community Food Share or the Boulder County Latina League, 6525 Gunpark Dr, #370-184, Boulder 80301.