Robert (“Bob”) Gill Logan
Robert (“Bob”) Gill Logan passed away March 30, 2026 at age 94 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was born to Albert and Frances Logan in Ann Arbor, Michigan December 3, 1931, the older of two boys. His father was a dentist and part-time Spanish teacher at the University of Michigan, and his mother a homemaker. He grew up in Ann Arbor, just a quarter mile from the University of Michigan campus, and attended University High School. He attended Haverford College where he majored in chemistry. He earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study bio-chemistry (and play on the golf team) at Oxford in 1954, and while he was there, he was one of about 3,000 people to see Roger Bannister run the world’s first four-minute mile. He was a student with many lists, especially vocabulary words, a “Life List” of birds he’d seen, and classical music favorites. He attended the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency there and also taught for a semester.
His parents hosted a music recital in 1953, when he met the lovely pianist playing Chopin, his future wife Mary Ellen Eckert of East Lansing, Michigan, who also attended Michigan, as a music major. They were married in East Lansing in 1956. After his residency, they moved to Santa Barbara in 1963, where Bob practiced endocrinology at Sansum Medical Clinic for 31 years. Bob specialized in thyroid issues and diabetes.
A year after coming to California, Bob joined the Board of Trustees of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute where he was involved for over 40 years, including several years as Board President. Bob also worked with Mary Ellen on the boards of Postpartum Support International and the Mental Health Association.
Bob was an avid golfer from an early age, playing golf at University High School, Haverford College, and Oxford University. He and Mary Ellen joined La Cumbre Country Club in 1967 and he remained a member for 57 years, until 2024. He enjoyed teaching golf to anyone, especially his grandchildren. He hiked all over the world with Mary Ellen, they were especially fond of Pontresina, Switzerland, hiking the Alps, listening to the cow bells. He also loved canoeing and camping.
Bob was an active birder, with over 500 species on his “Life List.” He was very active in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for over 50 years, and was always proud of Santa Barbara’s very high standing in the national competition. He traveled to Mad Island Wildlife Management Area in Texas, and Africa to add to his Life List.
Bob enjoyed collecting South American stamps and over the years developed a substantial collection. His paternal grandparents lived in Buenos Aires most of their lives, and were an inspiration pertaining to faith, family, global outreach, and caring for others.
Bob sang in the First United Methodist Church choir for over 50 years and also for the Santa Barbara Master Chorale. He loved classical music and the Santa Barbara Symphony. He also sang along, very annoyingly, to Led Zeppelin in the 1970’s when his three teenage children played vinyl records.
A loving and ever-present husband and father, Bob is predeceased by Mary Ellen, his wonderful wife of 64 years, and his brother David (Linda). He is survived by sons Don and Mark (Coco), both living in California and daughter, Elizabeth who lives in Costa Rica. And he is survived by nine “above average!” (Garrison Keillor fan) grandchildren (who knew him as “Grandee” or “Deeds”) and six young great-grandchildren: Tom (Allison) with Maggie and Max, Matt (Cara), Amy Marks (Tim) with Cayden and Callie, Marie (Lev) with Jacob and Gabe, Caroline (Jordan), Joe, Juliana Woods (Scott), Jen (Patrick) and Kate (Erich) all of whom have enriched and challenged his life with hikes, music, golf, travel and great joy! Some of his favorite or best- remembered expressions were: “Feel the warmth of the sun on your back (on cold mornings when camping or standing on the first tee).” “Trust me, it’s a straight putt (golf).” “Hot damn, those rapids (previewing the portages on canoe trips) will be so much fun tomorrow!” “Oh look! (in a whispered, but excited, voice) It’s a Western Tanager!” “If you play that Led Zeppelin song [Stairway to Heaven] one more time, I’m going to sing over it even louder!”
There will be a graveside service for family members. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Santa Barbara Symphony or Sansum Diabetes Research Institute.
