Robert Hayden Corbett (9/29/32-9/13/09) passed away recently after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his loving wife, Jackie; loyal sons Rich and Chris; and grandchildren, Brian, Robert, and John; devoted sister, Loretta Chamberland; and daughter-in-law Gladys, son’s fiance, Carol and her son, Jeremy. He was born in Boston, Mass, lived in Rhode Island for his childhood and college years (was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island), and had a 2-year stint in the Army in-between his college years, where he served and made the rank of sergeant in Japan. He moved to Marin County, CA in 1959, where he taught at the Juvenile Hall, met his wife of 48 years, and changed careers into concrete pump operating as an operating engineer for the local union 3, where he was president of the Concrete Pumper’s Accociation in 1975-6, and where he eventually retired from after 32 years in the industry; then, moving from Novato to Rohnert Park on the golf course, where he enjoyed his dogs, telescope, SIRS events, and family. He was also a licensed pilot and inventor with a US patent in the concrete pumping industry; furthermore, he participated in triathlons during his retirement years and was a president of the Phi Mu Delta fraternity at URI, and was generally referred to as a jack-of-all-trades.   Memorial services being planned.  Call Chris at 650-834-0576 for more info.

Well done. Good job. I am sure your family is proud of you. I wish i could of met you.

Bob was a awesome guy...Never had a bad word to say and always free with his advice and expertise. He retired from BCP in Berkeley then came back as a safety guy and did an awesome job...Rich if you read this I hear you changed companys too and I hope you and your son are doing well with Pops.....

thanks for the kind thoughts joe, yeah, my dad was the tops.  chris

looks nice. thanks, todd

Hello Concrete Pumpers. From the day I was born in 1962 to my dads passing last Sunday, Dad, or as operators called him (Big Bob) was always there for me and our family. Dad was also always there for any concrete pump operator that needed help with a pumping question or maybe just to talk about anything that life brings. Dad started Corbett Concrete Pumping in Novato Ca in 1961 with a Challange Cook Bros Squeze Crete line pump mounted on a Ford F-350. Dad realized at the time the pumping industry had a big need for a (Boom Pump) so Dad got in touch with a local welder in Petaluma Ca and designed a 30' boom and they mounted it on the little F-350. IT WORKED WOW! They were very happy. At the same time Dad was helping a machinest  Mr McElroy in Berkeley Ca design a roll and fold boom. McElroy built the FIRST roll and fold boom in the world in his little shop. Dad told me McElroy did not have enough money to patent the design so the roll and fold design was then copied by the big german companys and then patented by them. After a few years Dad went to work for Challange Cook Bros and sold new Squeze Cretes and Redi Mix trucks. Dad thought selling was o.k. but he missed pumping concrete and went to work for a big concrete pumping company called APC Concrete Pumping located in (Marin Co Ca) around 1970. Dad was the general manager there for about 8 years or so. The owner of APC sold the company and Dad went to work for Bay Cities Concrete Pumping in Novato Ca doing sales. Dad still missed pumping so he went to work for CFT Concrete Pumping in Belmont Ca. Dad ran there first 875 Thompson and then they bought Dad a new 2001 Thompson.The commute to CFT was around 60 miles and it was really getting Dad tired. Dad was offered a job with Berkeley Concrete Pumping that was much closer to Dads house so Dad took the job. Dad ran a 1985 900 28 meter until he retired in 1990 from Berkeley. After retirement Dad missed  being out in the field working with his fellow operators so he asked Berkeley if they would employ Dad as a safety man. After a short stay at home Dad was back out in the field AGAIN. That was still not enough to do for Dad so Dad invented and patented the first concrete pumping flow control device that fits inside the 4" rag hose. The device slows down the flow of concrete and if you plug the hose will not whip. Dad FINALLY retired again around 2000. Still not enough for Dad! Every time Dad would see me or ANY pump on the job pumping Dad would always stop and have a fun conversation with who ever was running the pump. Dad, RIP you will be missed very much. Rich

Rich: I'm sorry for the loss of your Dad! I first met him in 1972 or so when he and my Dad worked for APC. He was always full of life,and loved pumping! I also remember him when he would pop in at jobsites whenever he saw a boom in the air,and tell stories about the"good ole days"! He also "broke in' many operators to this business, and just couldn't stay away from pumping. Ritchie,he will be missed! BOB H

rich, great job. dad is super proud of you and also of what you wrote.  thanks a million. chris

Also Rich,thanks for the story about your dad and McElroy! I wrote about him here a couple of years ago,and I don't think anyone really believed me! And for the backup on the ACPA! Contrary to popular belief it wasn't started by the big boys,but by a handful of mom & pop pumping outfits in the San Francisco Bay Area, trying to prevent price slashing!

Yup!

Big Bob was the man.

He trained me at BCP on a 2001 thompson, well over 20 years ago, (wow time flies)

He had an approach to training a guy that that was unique to Bob it was all about safety. I think he coined the phrase Safety First! (lol)

I am fortunate to have sat down with Bob a couple mo. ago, we shot the breeze for a while, it was damn cool.

Before Carol, Rich and I walked in Rich said If he gets up and offers you his chair take it dont argue with him you wont win. Sure enough there I sat in the most comfortable overstuffed recliner you ever saw. Made for some easy goin b/s (breeze shooting) (lol)

Big Bobs legand will live on through those of us he trained for generations to come.

I tip my hard hat to ya one more time Bob, rest in peace my friend.

This email was sent to me and I was asked to post it. This is from Mark Hopson I met bob back in 1986...we worked for a company that was seeking to be a "top notch pumping company" in the bay area...he helped me become an operating engineer member by telling management to either have me join or "get rid of him" as bob was the go between the union and the company...bob was truly a different individual...old school...a throw back from a different type of era of the common working man...he once seen me walking down the street after work and he pulled over...where you going?...i told him i was taking a bus back home after they could not fix my car at a nearby garage....he said hop in i'll give you a ride...as he drove me home he told he would give me the car he was driving just take him home and it is yours...i think it was a ford maverick or chevy vega...nice car...i told him no...but thanks very much..he proceeded to tell me how he had too many vehicles and wanted me take a restorable convertable cadillac...for free...you just do not meet people like bob every day...there were many other good things over the years he did as well...years later as the "top notch pump company" went to a consistant decline in becoming a " concrete pump company that you do not want any where near your project"...i chose to become an owner of a line pump myself...after working for over twenty years for the company and taking the garbage the company dished out,i left that company to help another company get their boom going...with bob's help...yes he came out of retirement again at the crisp age of 73...it was just a few months of hanging out together and getting this company on solid ground with their pump as their was many things wrong with it...bob as always said he wanted to train me to run a boompump..and did....had some fun times in those few months as well...he told me all the things he did back in "boston"...how proud he was of his two kids...and of course his wonderful wife "jackie"...i will never forget all the times he was in this area he always wanted a "nations cheese burger"...in fact our last time working together was on holloween day that went into night as the day dragged on...we stopped at a nearby "nations" we ate them at my house after 9:00 p.m...that was 2005...i said thank you to bob many times and his response was always the same "go out and makes some money"...the last time i saw bob in june as he was recovering from a very severe injury from a car collision...and yes he b.b.q. some hamburgers for lunch...i could go on and on about other memories as well,but that is where i will leave it...a good man and a great memory....may god bless his family...and may bob rest in peace....mark hopson....apache concrete pumping

Todd, please tell Mark, "Thanks."  I appreciate any and all responses regarding my dad.

We're having a memorial.  Just call me at 650-834-0576 for details.  It's this Saturday in Marin Co.