Robert Abel's memorial service was held at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles on September 25, 2001. There were approximately 150 people there. The family asked me to write and deliver the eulogy.

I was a director at Robert Abel and Associates for the last 8 years the company existed. Bob and I remained close friends from the time he hired me in 1979 until his untimely death on September 23, 2001.

Bob's passion, vision, creativity, wisdom and pioneering spirit not only touched and ignited the beginnings of countless careers, but birthed an industry.

The following are excerpts from handwritten cards sent to Bob while he was in the hospital attempting to recover from his heart attack of August 20th. These words might simply begin to paint a primitive sketch of the impact he had. Each sentence is from a different person, many of whom are presently leaders in the computer animation and visual FX community:

"Lord knows how many careers and lives you've jump-started..."
"You demonstrated what it meant to be a real pioneer..."
"You have mentored an entire generation...."
"Your dedication to quality inspired me for life..."
"You showed us what we are made of...."
"You made an indelible sacrifice to cut the path for the rest of us..."
"You fostered hundreds of young creative talent..."
"You saw our gift and believed in us..."
"Because of you, now we're following our own vision...."
"I hope you know how influential you've been...."

Eulogy to Robert Abel
Bob's beloved family Marah and Josh, Judi, Jerry and Kirsten, and to Bob's dear friends, colleagues, students.....DREAMERS.

We've lost the man carrying the torch.
The Navigator.
The one who lit the way.
Sometimes by wildfire.
Sometimes by light alone.
Sometimes by the seat of his pants.

It was Faith.

This Visionary, he was in the front, always, and his torch treated us to a view of remarkable beauty, wisdom and truth. He showed us the way, and it was magic.

Bob Abel endeared us, gifted us, inspired us, blessed us, revived us, guided us, to BE something we never thought possible.... True to our hearts.

Bob inspired us to not only dream, but to make our dreams reality. And he taught us by example of his passionate life.

It borders on incomprehensible how Bob Abel, this man of such unspeakably passionate creative vitality and wisdom, could be taken from us so swiftly and so soon. It's an indescribable loss. Yet I have to believe it's some kind of mysterious beauty. Life's way of perfection. And so I celebrate Bob Abel's life today....