Robert Allen Alexander

Robert Alexander was born on March 19, 1946, in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three children born to Vivian O. Quarrels Alexander and Clarence L. Alexander, Sr.

 

Robert spent his formative years in New Castle, where he lived until the age of 18. After graduating from New Castle High School in 1964, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. He served four years as a medic in the Intensive Care Unit at Vandenberg Air Force Hospital.

 

Following his honorable discharge, Robert relocated to the San Francisco Peninsula Bay Area to be near family from New Castle. He pursued his education at the College of San Mateo, Cal State East Bay, and San Francisco State University, ultimately earning a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and a Master's degree in Multimedia Education. He made East Palo Alto, California his home beginning in 1975, drawn by its small-town community feel—reminiscent of his New Castle roots.

 

A common thread throughout Robert’s life was his love of community and connection. That passion began early. At age five, he became a newspaper delivery boy in New Castle, a role that delighted him with opportunities to interact with many families in his neighborhood. This early experience made a lasting impression, and he often shared fond memories of it throughout his life.

 

Professionally, Robert dedicated himself to public service and community development. He served as Youth Services Director for the City of Menlo Park and later as Recreation Director for the City of East Palo Alto. After a life-changing trip to South Africa in 2001, he co-founded RAA International Entrepreneurs, a Black-owned travel company designed to promote international connections and cultural exploration. In 2017, Robert began volunteering at the Riekes Center, where he became a beloved advisor and found a second home in an affirming, GOALS-driven environment.

 

Robert was never just one thing. He was a man of many names. Each one a signal, a story, a chapter of who he was. They called him Bobbie, Bob, Boe-Weevil, Bullet, Bob-a-Lou’s, Alex, Mr. Alexander, and RAA. Each name matched a season of his life. “Bobbie” ran through New Castle streets in his youth, “Alex” echoed down workplace hallways, “Bullet” ran his own race, Bob-a-Lou’s was the playful uncle, and “RAA” the name he chose for himself after a trip to Egypt in 1982 was a badge of identity and purpose.

 

Robert believed in growing things—with his hands, his heart, and his time. That belief took root early, in the garden rows beside his parents and grandmother. He carried that love of the soil with him his whole life, always eager to dig in—whether planting vegetables or planting ideas in conversation. With his father, he learned to raise walls, fix what was broken, and take pride in knowing how a house stood because your hands helped shape it. He never stopped being a builder of homes, of teams, of community. 

 

Robert was made for motion. He thrived on competition, not for the sake of winning, but for the camaraderie, the shared sweat, the high fives and handshakes. On baseball fields in New Castle, he led teams as a boy. On basketball courts, as a young man eventually as a runner he learned to run his own race. He ran marathons for the discipline, biked for bay views, played tennis for the joy of community, and swung clubs with the Veterans Golf Association—forever in movement, always in good company.

 

But it wasn’t just his body that danced—his spirit did, too.

 

Life’s struggles did weigh him down so he turned them into music. From flute to saxophone, his breath became melody, his thoughts translated into jazz. As a member of the Talons of Heru, he gigged across the Bay Area, lifting hearts with every note.

 

Robert knew how to play—not just instruments or sports, but life itself. He brought the same warmth to a soul-searching talk as he did to a silly, spontaneous exchange. With him, conversations could be sacred or sideways, deep or delightfully off-topic. What mattered was the connection.

 

Robert passed away peacefully with a smile on his face at home in his garden on May 11, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, but leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and vibrant community. He is survived by his beloved partner of 53 years, Marcia Fitten of East Palo Alto, CA; his devoted daughter, Ayeola Alexander of Washington, D.C.; and his cherished granddaughter, Zuri Alexander, also of Washington, D.C. He is also survived by his brother, Clarence Alexander Jr. of Catonsville, MD; his sister, Deborah Martin of Pittsburgh, PA; his aunts, Barbara McCrae of New Castle, PA and Roberta Ponder of Las Vegas, NV; as well as a niece, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and a wide circle of cousins, colleagues, and close friends who will forever cherish his memory.