Harlow P. Rothert
Oct. 30, 1935-Nov. 6, 2024
Nevada City, California
Harlow P Rothert, Jr., of Nevada City, CA passed away on November 6, 2024, in his home surrounded by the deep love of his family and friends. His family, including his brother Steve of Bend Oregon, and his three children and five grandchildren who called him “Opa”, were with him to celebrate his 89th birthday.
Opa grew up in Palo Alto, California, where he met his future wife and partner of 63 years, Mary "Martie" Farrar. He no doubt won her over immediately with his suave comment, "Spiffy shoes!", as they walked past each other on the first day of 7th grade at Jordan Middle School.
That Harlow could walk past his future wife that day was a small miracle because he had been paralyzed by polio only 2 years earlier. He recovered and became an All-American swimmer and played quarterback, punter and linebacker for Palo Alto High School. He and Martie married at 21 and 20 years old while at UC Berkeley and remained happily together until Martie passed away in 2019.
Harlow's greatest love, after his wife and children of course, was the ocean. Opa and Martie ("Omi") would treat the extended family to a week in the waves in San Diego each summer. Even into his 80s he would spend hours bobbing in the water, scanning the horizon for the next big wave, shouting "Outside! Outside!" when he saw one in the distance. He could bodysurf the waves to the sand, with his trademark right foot sticking into the air, the "secret" to his long rides.
Opa was nothing if not devoted. He got his first job with Schlage Locks right after graduating and stayed with the company for 44 years, becoming a director of international sales. He flew exclusively with United Airlines and at one point became United’s #3 all-time flyer, racking up over 1 million miles. In retirement he volunteered for 13 years with Friends of Deer Creek in Nevada City and organized their water quality monitoring program, only stopping when the slippery creek boulders became dangerous. And he would have done anything for his beloved dog Rosie, except go easy on the treats.
Most memorable about Opa was his big heart. He lived to connect with everyone he encountered - the folks who daily made him a salami sandwich at the SPD deli counter, the proprietors of Scraps where he (too) often bought Rosie treats, Rosie's groomer, his neighbors, and his amazing caregivers. He endeared people with his ready and hearty laugh, which, his children will never forget, could turn every moviegoer’s head all at once in the direction of his “unique” laugh.
Opa's love for people was his superpower, enabling him to build a devoted family, fly around the world countless times, and find loving friends and fans wherever he went. In his death, he joins his mother Jean (Hodgeman) Rothert, stepmother Jessie (Calderwood) Rothert, and father Harlow P. Rothert Sr. He is survived by his brother Steve and his wife Hilary and their two children Nicholas and Erica; his daughter Jennifer Piercey and her husband Chuck Piercey and their two boys Reed and Graham; his son Bruce Rothert and his wife Audrey Rothert and their two daughters Rachel and Rebecca; and his son Steve Rothert and his wife Elizabeth Soderstrom and their daughter Tova Rothert. We love you Opa. Outside! Outside!
Tags: veteran, sports
