Bazil, Robert Daniel passed away on
Friday, May 16, 2003 after fighting a brave four year battle with
cancer. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Lois Bazil, his son,
Roderick James Bazil, his two daughters, Pamela Ann Haynes and Debra
Bazil Sillasen, as well as his brother, Howard Everett Bazil, and
grandchildren Denise Lauren Winchell, Tara Nicole Sillasen, Ryan
Daniel Sillasen, Taylor Ann Haynes, Justin Douglas Sillasen. Robert
Bazil was born in Hall Summit, Kansas on February 20, 1920. He
resided in Newton, Kansas until he moved to Huntington Beach,
California in 1947.
For those who knew Robert Bazil he was
a true American with strong conservative, Christian values. During
World War II he was awarded 5 bronze stars as a gunman in the
airforce. During the war he served in Italy, in particular Sicily. He
was a pioneer in the great expansion of Huntington Beach and
dedicated himself to the development of the city. He served on the
Huntington Beach Planning Commission for 23 consecutive years during
which he was elected as Chairman of the Huntington Beach Planning
Commission for 7 terms. To our knowledge, no single individual has
matched this length of service on the Huntington Beach Planning
Commission. In addition he was elected as Chairman of the first
Huntington Beach Redevelopment Committee. Robert Bazil served during
the fastest and largest growth in the city’s history; to be sure,
during this period the city of Huntington Beach recorded the fastest
growth of any city in the nation. For his contributions of tireless
work and devotion to the city’s development he was awarded a plaque
signed by the Governor of the state of California. In addition the
city honored Robert Bazil by bestowing a street, Bazil Circle (off of
Ellis between Gothard and Goldenwest), named after him.
Other contributions by Robert Bazil
include the construction of the first Chapel at First Christian
Church. He was a role model with the youth of the city; he coached
flag football, baseball and basketball at the Huntington Beach
Recreation Center for several years. He has received accolades from
these youths that are now adults. He was a wonderful father and
contributed to supporting his children whether it be in sports,
cheerleading, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Eagles, Girl Scouts, and other
youth sponsored programs.
He belonged to the Huntington Beach
Elks, the Windsor Club and was a World War II Veteran. His energy was
incredible and he was seemingly tireless at serving his community and
supporting his family. In the private sector he was a building
contractor. During his career he built three strip malls, the Cones
Chevrolet building in Anaheim, the bowling alley center in Anaheim,
industrial buildings that were rented to the Disneyland Resorts in
Anaheim and several duplexes and fourplexes complexes in Costa Mesa,
San Clemente, and Mission Viejo. Furthermore he built 23 custom homes
in Huntington Beach.
Robert Bazil did not stop here. In his
mid-fifties he decided to obtain his real estate license and passed
his exam on his first attempt. He had a love of basketball and in
Newton, Kansas his high school coach, Frank Linley, won 7 State
Championships. Frank Linley asked Robert Bazil to take over as the
school’s coach on his retirement. Robert Bazil commented that this
proposition was one of the greatest compliments that he had ever
received. Because of his love of the game he continued to play full
court basketball until he was 75 years of age. During his younger
years with a nonstop time clock he was written up in the newspaper
for scoring 38 points in a single game. He was one of the first
players to develop a deadly hook shot. Shortly after he graduated
from high school they took motion pictures to teach the young high
school players on basketball fundamentals and shooting techniques.
Another highlight in his life was when he played at halftime during a
Lakers game at the Los Angeles Forum as a member of the First
Christian Church basketball team. A notable citizen who also has a
park (Worthy Park is at the corner of 17th street and Main in
Huntington Beach) named after him is Norman Worthy. He also played
alongside Robert Bazil at the halftime game at the Forum.
Before Robert Bazil went into military
service during World War II he won a college scholarship. He declined
the scholarship because of the war and instead went to work for
Cessna Aircraft Corporation in Whichita, Kansas. In just three short
weeks he was promoted to a crew chief. During this employment he won
a war bond for a suggestion on improving wing construction on the
Cessna Aircraft.
After World War II while visiting his
wife’s sister in Huntington Beach he had an insight that he would
then move to California to start building homes. He loved working
with wood and he saw the need for the development of homes in
Huntington Beach. He hired a carpenter, Norman Wells, and learned the
trade on his own. He even taught himself how to draw blueprints and
he continued to draw up and sell them for several years while
building homes.
Robert Bazil married Ruby Bazil on
August 24, 1942. His devotion and love only grew stronger during the
years of his life. He would always comment that the best thing that
ever happened to him in his life was the day that he met his wife. He
described her as the cream of the crop. He wrote poems to her for all
special occasions. He wrote songs for each of his children that he
sang to them throughout their childhood and adulthood. He only spoke
when he had something worth saying. He was modest to a fault and when
complimented he would always refer to his wonderful wife and comment
that, “I couldn’t have done it without your mother”.
He was a humble man, an honest man, a
dignified man, a model citizen, a model role model, a wonderful
husband and father, and an extraordinary person with strong Christian
values. He was loved by all and will be sorely missed.
Services: Viewing Tuesday, May 20, 2003
from 4:00 to 8:00pm at Pierce Brothers on 627 Main Street in
Huntington Beach. Funeral Wednesday, May 21, 2003 from 11:00am to
12:00pm at First Christian Church on 1207 Main Street in Huntington
Beach with burial immediately following at The Good Shepard Cemetery
on 8301 Talbert Avenue in Huntington Beach. Reception to be held at
the Newland Barn Wednesday, May 21, 2003 from 12:30 to 3:30pm.
Published in Orange County Register on
May 20, 2003
