Robert Lamont Sperry

March 26, 1936 – May 3, 2026

Robert “Bob” Lamont Sperry passed away on Sunday, May 3rd in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 90, after living a full and happy life.

Bob was born on March 26, 1936, in Salt Lake City and was lovingly adopted by Rulon James and Lucy Emma Gedge Sperry. Remarkably, he did not learn of his adoption until years later, when a dream during his LDS mission in New Zealand compelled him to ask his parents, who confirmed it. Learning this news didn’t change his love for his parents whatsoever but in his later years he managed to track down his half siblings and learn about his biological parents. Among other things, we learned that his father was a jazz musician who performed around the state, which helps explain dad’s interest in playing the piano along with a lifelong love of classical music and opera. Dad enjoyed meeting many of his biological family members and learning about them and his birth parents.

Bob attended the University of Utah, where he was elected Senior Class President, pledged Sigma Chi fraternity, got into a few memorable shenanigans, and ultimately earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. During this period, he also answered a call to serve an LDS mission in New Zealand, where he fell deeply in love with Polynesians — something that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

Eventually, Bob set his sights on Elaine Storrs. On their very first date, he performed a Maori war dance in the back of a Volkswagen Beetle — which somehow didn’t chase her away. The two were married in the Logan LDS temple, beginning a partnership and family life that became the center of Bob’s world. He was deeply committed to his children’s lives, supporting our many interests and endeavors including funding our college educations.

Bob loved to garden everywhere he lived. He planted vegetables and beautiful flowers (he especially loved Dahlias). After his children grew up and started to garden their own yards, many of his grandchildren had the opportunity to work with him in his gardens. Dad taught us how to prune and plant and savor a delicious ripe heirloom tomato that we’ve grown ourselves.

Bob spent a decade working for IBM before striking out on his own by co-founding a computer software business with a partner. That venture came to a painful end when the partner secretly committed fraud and fled, leaving Bob with significant debt. Bob refused to declare bankruptcy and instead worked tirelessly over many years until every dollar was repaid. He next transitioned to a career in real estate and lastly worked as an investment broker. Dad had a certain flexibility enabling him to succeed in such a wide range of careers through his life.

A lifetime devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bob loved the Gospel deeply and was a faithful scripture reader throughout his life. He had a particular passion for working with young people and thrived as a Scoutmaster — a calling that fit his adventurous, outdoorsman spirit perfectly. After retirement, he and Elaine served a mission together in Tonga, fulfilling a dream born decades earlier in New Zealand. After retirement, dad enjoyed being a guide at the LDS Conference Center for several years.

Bob was both a people person and an adventurous spirit, and he passed both traits on to his children. He traveled to many countries over his lifetime. Every year he took us on long family vacations during Summer break in our Ford station wagon. As the family grew, the grandchildren came along too — eventually requiring an entire bus to carry everyone, as on the memorable “Cities of the Book of Mormon” trip in Guatemala.

Even in his final years, Bob’s love of outdoor activities never faded. He skied into his 80s and remained an avid fisherman even after he could no longer walk, content to be wheeled down to the shoreline and cast a line. He faced the end of his life the same way he faced everything else — with optimism, stubborn resilience, and a sometimes off color sense of humor.

We’ll always have our memories of dad living his big, best life. Dad driving us for hours and days on family vacation, not always stopping at restrooms when we ask. Dad cracking a racy joke. Dad playing the piano or listening to classical music at top volume. Dad laughing, squeezing a boy scout’s hand and making them wince. Dad hugging everybody. Dad fishing and backpacking on 50 milers. Dad calling us by his goofy nicknames. Dad randomly howling out a maori war dance. We will always carry something of him with us.

Robert Lamont Sperry is survived by his beloved wife, Elaine; their five children, Grant (Ali), Brenda (Grimes), John (Ellen), Linda (Christian), and Janet (Dave); his many adoring grandchildren and even great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Geraldine Sperry Hammond and his two grandchildren Sariah Anne Sperry and Gretchen Elizabeth Darby.

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