Albert Roberta

It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of Albert (Albie/Al) Roberta. He passed quietly at home on October 19th following a courageous bout with cancer. Al was born in Chicago and moved to Santa Barbara with his parents, Albert and Marie Roberta in 1945. Al attended San Roque Elementary and Santa Barbara Catholic High School. He earned degrees from Santa Barbara Community College, California State College at Long Beach and did graduate work at at UC Santa Barbara. Al served as Director at Los Prietos Boys Camp and as a Santa Barbara County Probation Officer. Following his retirement he took a “part-time” position as Director of Operations at Girls Incorporated of Greater Santa Barbara for 25 years.

He married his wife Jan in 1968 and recently celebrated 60 years together. Proud of his Italian heritage, they traveled to his parents’ homeland in Northern Italy and was warmly greeted by his “Mozzi” relatives in the hill town of Bobbio. They moved to their current home in Mission Canyon in 1983 where he loved spending time gardening and reading endless books. His friends readily recognized him driving around town in his beloved blue vintage VW.

Once diagnosed with Cancer, he began treatment at Ridley Tree Cancer Center. He was especially grateful to his Sansum doctors and the Ridley Tree Cancer Center staff for their compassionate care. He was also deeply thankful for the support of friends and family and for being there for he and Jan. Never one for any recognition, he would ask to be remembered in a modest way of his family and friends choosing.