Robert E. Hales J.D. ’72 died peacefully from congestive heart failure on December 19, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Philadelphia, Bob attended Lower Merion High School and earned a bachelor of science from St. Joseph’s University before serving as a First Lieutenant for the United States Air Force. Bob married the love of his life, Joan Patterson, on December 26, 1955.
Following a distinguished tour as an Air Force pilot, Bob began his career in the fields of insurance and financial planning. He started with New York Life in Philadelphia and was transferred to Hawaii in 1961. He later became president of Kalakaua Insurance in Honolulu and a founder of the planning firm of Financial Associates of Hawaii. In 1969 Bob, Joan, and their three children moved from Hawaii to Saratoga, California, so he could attend Santa Clara University School of Law, where he later became an adjunct professor. In 1989, he joined daughter Jan Hales J.D. ’86 to form Hales, Hales & George with law offices in San Francisco and Saratoga, California. For nearly 50 years, Bob devoted his career to helping thousands of clients in the fields of estate planning, trust administration and probate. Bob was a nationally recognized expert and author on estate planning, a highly sought-after speaker and an adored advisor to his clients for his wisdom, passion and humor. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, seven grandchildren, including Christopher George ’15, and four great-grandchildren.