Robert 'Bob' Allamand

ROBERT "BOB" ALLAMAND

Stanwood

Robert "Bob" Clarence Allamand, 68, of Berkeley, Calif., formerly of Stanwood, Iowa, died Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at Kaiser Hospital, Oakland, Calif., following a brief illness. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Stanwood, officiated by Pastor Jordan McKinley. Burial at the Stanwood

Cemetery. A memorial service was held April 12, 2015, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Berkeley. Pastor Bob O'Sullivan officiated.

Bob was born Sept. 14, 1946, to Clarence A. and Dora W. Sievers Allamand, Stanwood, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents.

He graduated from Lincoln High School, Stanwood, on May 20, 1964, and was permanently disabled in a swimming accident Aug. 13, 1964, but he was not deterred from living a productive and fullfilling life. He was admired for his courage, responding to his trials without anger or

mourning, but with faith and gratitude that someone pulled him from the water.

Skilled rehab and training enabled Bob to enroll at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, receiving his bachelor's degree in English and his master's degree in counseling in 1974. He moved to Berkeley in August 1976 to train as a paralegal at the Center for Independent Living and worked for CIL Job Placement. He was elected to its board of directors. He was subsequently hired by the federal office of Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services, in San Francisco and worked there ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bob was a political activist and outspoken advocate for the disabled and proudly participated in a famous sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building in April 1977 in which the documentary "The Power of 504" was made. He said "I was so blessed to be a part of that" and was one of three selected to negotiate with federal rep-resentatives. It was, perhaps, the most significant event in the history of the disability rights movement.

Bob was committed to Berkeley's disabled community and chaired and served on many boards and committees and was commissioner of Berkeley's Disability Commission, where he received recognition for his work and dedication in promoting integration of the disabled into all areas of economic, political and community life. He was a member and elder of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Berkeley.

His disability required daily assistance of attendants, and over the years they came from over 50 countries, resulting in friendships that were remarkable and long- lasting.

Bob loved NASCAR, baseball and his "hobby" job for the Oakland Athletics during the season assisting seniors and fans with special problems and disabilities. He was especially proud of two World Series rings awarded to him by the Oakland Athletics for his service. He loved Berkeley but he always kept a strong Iowa home state allegiance, thinking of himself as "Hawkeye Bob."

Bob was loved and will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by two aunts, cousins and many friends.