Robert Leon Allen (Bob) passed from this earth on April 1, 2026 after a long and intense battle with cancer. Bob was born August 12, 1954, in Portland, Oregon as the youngest of three children of Charles Linsworth Allen and Elaine Frances Allen, nee Andre. He took his middle name (Leon) from his maternal Grandfather, Leon Andre.

Bob grew up a happy and talented child with his older brother James (Jim) and older sister Charlaine (Chari). He played in the school bands (mainly trumpet) as he was growing up and taught himself piano and guitar. He was a capable musician on nearly every instrument.  He was a dynamic performer in many school plays. In high school he played the lead in The Boy Who Changed the World and won acclaim as John the Baptist in Godspell. Bob was also a cheerleader and was elected Student Body President. He graduated from Gresham High School in 1972.

After High School Bob attended Mt. Hood Community College and was accepted into and attended the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. To support himself he worked odd jobs in and around the performing world and as a Maître ‘d at a famous jazz club, The Cookery, where he met many famous jazz musicians. He also could make a mean table-side Caesar Salad.

After graduating from the Academy in 1976, Bob returned to the Portland area and worked in the hard-scrabble and feast-or-famine world of the entertainment industry, both as talent and production crew. He picked up a number of spots in TV and newspaper advertising and was production manager on many commercial and television shoots in the area. He did a stint making videos for the local National Public Broadcasting television station. He was also a principal in a Portland Area talent agency. He did many commercial training videos and taught at an IT training school.

Bob and Victoria 'Vikki' Lynn Smith and were married in 1988. Bob adopted Vikki’s two children, Amber and Ryan. Bob and Vikki divorced in 1997, but Bob remained very close, relationship-wise, with his children.

Bob enjoyed teaching and attended the education program at the Evergreen State College, graduating in 1987. He went on to obtain his Masters in Education at George Fox University in 1997. He was disappointed with his experience student teaching in US schools and so, like many young American educators, decided to take advantage of the opportunities to teach English over-seas. Most American teachers return to the US from these adventures after a year or two. But Bob excelled at what he did, and he rose from being a teacher of English to being a Professor of English Education at a University in South Korea. This was a rather extraordinary achievement and, despite some prejudice for being non-Korean, he also won awards for teaching at the university. He was adored by his students and established life-long relationships with many of them, which was very important to him.

Bob retired from teaching in Korea in 2018 and returned to the US, bringing his two cats, Epuni and T-Bop, with him.  He reunited with his children and with his brother Jim (sister Chari had passed in 2010). He delighted in his grandchildren.  Bob enjoyed playing his guitar and teaching his grandchildren to play piano. He loved to travel, returning occasionally to Korea and going on Jazz Cruises.

Bob probably developed prostate cancer in Korea, but was never properly diagnosed or treated there. It was diagnosed and treated in the US, largely successfully. But unknown to all, he was independently developing colon cancer, which was large and well established when it was discovered. He went through many rounds of surgery and chemotherapy. His doctors told him he probably had two years to live. Bob made it for four years before succumbing on April 1, 2026, the worst April Fools joke ever. He died in his own home, a  grandparent’s suite in the house he shared with his daughter Amber. His beloved grandchildren visited him regularly during his last days, and his daughter Amber and brother Jim and sister-in-law Lynn were with him when he finally passed. He was under hospice care and died without pain or distress. He is greatly missed by his family and many, many friends. His interment will be at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland with his mother, father and sister.  A Celebration of Life open house will be held on May 2, 2026 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm at The Evergreen in Portland Oregon. At 5:30 there will be a time to share memories of Bob.

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Robert “Bob” “Bobby” “Baba” Leon Allen, 71, as remembered by his daughter, Amber Allen

Robert Allen, known to many as Bob, Bobby, and most lovingly as Baba, passed away on April 1, 2026, at the age of 71. In true Bob fashion, leaving on April Fool’s Day feels like one final joke, one that those who knew his humor can almost imagine him smiling about.

Bob is survived by his brother Jim and sister in law Lynn; his daughter Amber and her husband Brad, along with their children Savanna, Skylar, and Bianca; and his son Ryan and his wife Violeta, along with their children Ro, Aryah, Amin, Amir, and Sadiq. His family was one of his greatest joys, and being “Baba” was a role he carried with pride, humor, and endless love.

Bob lived in Happy Valley the last couple of years with Amber and her family, but his life journey took him all over the world. From New York to Mexico and, most notably, nearly 20 years in South Korea as an English professor, Bob built a life rich with culture, connection, and curiosity.

Bob had a deep love for education and teaching that carried through every stage of his life. He initially attended acting school in New York, where acting became a core part of who he was. In his younger years, he performed in many plays and commercials and took on any job he could in the industry, determined to learn every facet of the craft. He later worked in the video production department at OPB and at a local church, continuing to blend creativity with storytelling.

He carried that passion into his most proud role as a college professor. Bob had a career spanning almost 20 years in South Korea at Jeonbuk University in Jeonju and later at Hannam University in Daejeon. While in Korea, he didn't just live there, he truly immersed himself. He tried his best to learn the language, embrace the culture, and formed deep, lasting friendships, many of which continued long after he returned to the United States. It was not uncommon for friends from Korea to travel across the globe just to spend time with him.

Bob took immense pride in his students and cherished them deeply. He often had a few students working as assistants, whom he affectionately referred to as “my girls,” serving as a warm, father-like presence in their lives. He also volunteered his time helping to direct plays for the drama department, bringing his love of acting and teaching together. He was known for hosting weekly potlucks for his students and watch parties of their favorite shows, creating a sense of community, laughter, and belonging for those around him.

Bob was known as a patient and kind soul, a friend to people of all ages and backgrounds. He had a rare gift for making others feel seen, heard, and included. He was also, at heart, an entertainer and a creator, someone who could pick up nearly any instrument and make music, often humbly downplaying his talents while quietly amazing everyone around him.

He had a deep love for history, jazz cruises, comedy shows, spicy food, hot springs, and discovering small local coffee shops. He loved to sing, play guitar, and share laughter. Bob had an unforgettable sense of humor, often creating unique inside jokes and special phrases with each person in his life, little shared worlds that made his relationships feel personal and one of a kind.

Bob also had a special place in his heart for animals, especially his dogs and cats over the years. He is survived by his beloved 20-year-old cat, TBop, whom he adopted while living in Korea. TBop was his loyal companion, sticking by him through thick and thin, and they grew old together like two grumpy old farts, proving that you really can teach an old cat and an old Baba new tricks.

Above all, Bob believed in growth, connection, and understanding others. Whether through language, music, or simple conversation, he spent his life building bridges.

Bob’s presence will be deeply missed, but his stories, laughter, and the many songs he left behind will continue to echo in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Bob's playful spirit couldn’t resist a little joke, and chose to leave us on April Fool’s Day, reminding us always to find a little humor, joy, and music in life, just as he did.

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A Remembrance of Bob by Alan Turner

Bob and I became friends when I first moved to Gresham in 1971. He was a senior and I was a junior, and we shared a lot of the same pursuits. The oats, choir and girls. Not necessarily in that order. Bob quickly became a catalyst for a group of friends that I’m still fortunate to know and love. Among them were Clifford Kohler, Craig Nelson and Martin Stone. The five of us referred to each other as The Dudes. Over the years we had a variety of adventures, from group camps at small lakes near Ollalie Butte to searching for fossils and panning for gold near John Day. Bob had his guitar and I had my Dutch ovens. He would entertain and I’d cook a little.

Bob was always ready for an adventure. And he and I had some grand ones. He and I drove a rusted 68 Catalina from Gresham to New York City. He was going back to the American Academy of dramatic arts and I had been accepted to start my first. We drove across the country, stopping only in Ogallala Nebraska because of a transmission problem and in Chicago because of psychosis. We referred to the psychosis as road rot. I slept across most of Pennsylvania while Bob drove through an ice storm. When I woke up, he just said welcome to the Catskills Mr. Turner, your turn to drive.

Many years later, I was living in Oklahoma when Bob told me he was getting married. I got a call from Jim saying he wanted to fly me from Oklahoma to Portland has a wedding present for Bob. I was more than happy to do that. It wasn’t the last time Jim and I conspired to surprise Bob over the years. Bob called me a few hours after the wedding and asked if I would join he and Vicky for an adventure the next day. I was careful to remind my friend that he was on his honeymoon. He said yeah, but you gotta leave tomorrow, let’s go to Crown Point, so we did. Bob was always the spontaneous one. I was prone to planning and Bob was in it for the adventure – “Don’t worry things will work out”. Because of his energy and positive nature, and sometimes his charm, things pretty much always worked out.

For 50 years Bob was my best friend, more like a brother than an associate. No-one that met him was likely to forget those blue eyes and that infectious laugh. Now my dear friend Bob has left on another adventure. Fairwinds Robert, you go on ahead, I’ll catch up. Love you, man.

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