7/29/1929 - 6/9/2020
Robert Barnett passed away peacefully on June 9, 2020 in San Rafael, California. He was 90. Robert was born in Manhattan, New York to entrepreneur Rueben Barnett of England and activist Fanny Rosenbloom of Romania. He had two younger brothers, Richard and Frank. Robert enjoyed a full life of study, music, and adventure.
As a boy, he played clarinet, emulating his hero, Benny Goodman. He excelled at chess, winning tournaments into his 60s. He loved reading history and nature books, and was a stamp collector. He attended the Bronx High School of Science for gifted kids. At age 17, Robert took a Greyhound bus to Chicago, where he hitch-hiked solo along Route 66 to Los Angeles. His first job was as a busboy at Clifton’s. There, he fell in love with Los Angeles. The sun, glamour, sailing. It was 1947. The war was over. Colleges filled up and USC called his name. Robert played the clarinet with the Trojan Marching Band, “Fight on!” His outgoing personality led to being president of his ZBT fraternity. He bought a sailboat with friends, frequenting Catalina. In 1951, he earned a BA in Philosophy from USC, and in 1955, a law degree from Harvard University. He met his first wife, Joyce Rosenberg, at a “jolly-up” dance at Brandeis University in Boston, Mass. In 1959, they married and started a family in Los Angeles. They had two children, Donna and Ethan Barnett.
Robert’s major jobs included: L.A. defense attorney for the flamboyant, Gladys Towles Root but Robert preferred less contentious work, and became an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) with the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in San Francisco. He served from 1963-2014 at the PUC, with a stint at AirCal as General Counsel from 1978-1984. Robert was appointed Chief Administrative Law Judge at the PUC from 1975-1978, and throughout his career was involved in major decisions. He appeared before the Supreme Court of California, the 9th Federal Court of Appeals, and the Superior Court. In 1978, he was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.
As an ALJ, Robert was the presiding officer for the PG&E bankruptcy, the Diablo Canyon review of construction, Southern California Edison (SCE) and SoCal Gas rate cases, as well as cases regarding water, trucking and environmental impact reports. In 2007, Robert judged against SCE, regarding falsification of data that cost ratepayers $124.7 million over 7 years, stating, “The evidence is overwhelming that senior management knew of the manipulation…” Ratepayers would need to be reimbursed. This was one of hundreds of meticulous decisions that has since guided PUC utilities and staff.
Robert loved skiing, and national chess and poker tournaments. He wrote and directed musicals performed by The Single Ski Club of Los Angeles. He had a sharp wit and loved trivia. He was proud of almost becoming a contestant on the TV show, Jeopardy, if it weren’t for that clicker. Nonetheless, he consistently was the favored friend on trivia and chess teams.
Robert met his second wife, Nola Pino, at the PUC, where they worked. Married in 1983, they enjoyed 60+
world cruises, themed parties in festive getups, and daily crossword puzzles. Bob, as he was known, is remembered by friends and family as, “The nicest man!” He will be dearly missed by his wife Nola Barnett, and surviving family members: Donna Barnett, Ethan Barnett, and grandchildren Sam and Andrew Barnett. Bob enjoyed a special bond with brother-in-law, Franklin Rosenberg, niece Lynne Shulman, and his surviving best friend of 72-years, Merle Horwitz, who reflected, “He was a dear friend. A good guy. Indeed, he was a mensch.” Rest in peace, Dad.
