Comments by Samantha Trice, Rob’s Sister

Thank you all for being here to celebrate my big brother, Rob Trice. Rob has connected with and touched so many people with his positivity, warmth, sense of humor, curiosity and zest for life.

Mom & Dad, thank you for this beautiful celebration, and for Rob. I can honestly say that being Rob Trice's little sister is one of the greatest gifts in life.

I've had quite a few people let me know that Rob felt like a big brother to them...and I get it.

Rob is a mentor, a protector, he's loyal, trustworthy, ready for a good laugh and overall, just fun & easy to be around.

However, to truly be Rob Trice's little sister, you need to be told that you're adopted (at 55 1 joked it back to Rob and finally figured out that it was funny)...have Rob sit on top of you while he spreads peanut butter on your face for the dog to lick off...tell you that the metal headrest in the car tastes like chocolate in the middle of winter in Wisconsin...only for you to taste and get your tongue stuck on the metal headrest...then watch your parents try to reprimand Rob but they are laughing too hard to do so effectively....

On Team Trice trips (this means that we're adults) Rob pushed me and my friend back when elephants came to drink water near our campsite in Tanzania pointing out that he didn't need to be first to run away, just not last. In Alaska, we shared a two person kayak. Rob spotted a bear on the shore and kayaked me toward the bear letting it know that I looked like a berry in my red rain jacket. And one of my favorites is when he shook a port-a-potty I was using while hiking in New Zealand. The entire port-a-potty filled with flies from below. I think Rob shocked himself on that one.

But I think the big brother most people are referring to is the one who hung out with me at recess when he was a freshman in high school and my friends in my 6th grade class stopped talking to me (I had other friends...just not at recess so it was a really nice time to have a big brother show up). Rob is the big brother who drove me to high school and let me hang out with his super cool friends. Rob read my college essays and told me they were good and why. He's the big brother who helped me figure out how to transition the Montessori school I founded from an LLC to a 501 (c) (3) so we could expand the socio-economic diversity of the school community. Rob challenges & guides people to do their best and live in line with their values.

Rob and I grew up in a home filled with love, laughter, respect, care, and a lot of adventures (we considered our moves adventures). Rob & I weren't allowed to fight...so we didn't...which I'm just so thankful for as it set the tone for a supportive sibling-ship. In our family, when there's something to laugh about...which is quite often...Rob calls it out...often in pun, song or haiku. Rob's bright light, corny sense of humor, and presence is so dearly missed, especially at the family dinner table and on Saturday morning phone calls.

It's been quite interesting to observe Rob “grow up”...please note the air quotes as he definitely has his own spin on adulthood. Career-wise, I've always been blown away by Rob's work ethic and curiosity on macro and micro levels. One phone call, Rob had just finished a meeting with the Biden administration about something food policy related and was driving to Half Moon Bay to personally pick up the pastries for the food truck he was working in that weekend. Rob sent photos of the berries growing in his yard to make Tricycles, and we would often talk on the phone while he put the labels on the Tricycle packaging then delivered them to the farm stand.

I admire Rob & Wendy's marriage, friendship & partnership. Rob called me after he met Wendy and said that he met the person he wanted to marry. I reminded him that she had to agree and say yes...and offered advice to Rob like maybe not eating White Castle on the plane when he was going to visit Wendy.

Luckily, Rob reigned in a few things and for over 30 years, Rob & Wendy have supported each other's individual goals and their common goals all while laughing, learning and building a life together that is filled with love, adventure, meaning...and chick flicks, ;-)

And then there's Rob the Funcle. While Rob sometimes needs to be reminded that the Popsicle Monster should not attack right before bedtime, Rob brings the fun. Rob showed up in a stormtrooper suit the Christmas he took the boys to a new Star Wars movie as a way to deliver the tickets. Rob gives the boys noogies just like he gave me growing up (nice family tradition to pass on).and most importantly, Rob makes the time and effort to visit, listen and learn about his nephews & nieces. My last text from Rob was his flight info to meet James, Robert and myself in Steamboat for a spring break ski trip.

As Rob lived his life filled with love, laughter, connection, meaning, family & friends, my way to honor Rob is to try to live each day in the same manner. Please join me in giving a big cheer to Rob and his beautiful journey.