Rob Simonich was a great man.

Rob has definitely been one of my most favorite people on the planet!
He was this VERY special, one of a kind, person...

What a shocking TRAGEDY!..

I am trying to comfort myself, thinking that he is probably "already teaching them (in heaven) about knifemaking", as our friend Kit Carson says, - and that is Rob's favorite thing to do.

But , I am still totally freaked out...
I will always miss his "Oki ni kso ko wah" :(:(:(

I will always treasure the Crowfoot he gave me...
 
Hey Everyone…

I really don’t know what to say about this, I’m not usually one for a loss of words, however this tragic event has me in disbelief, and saddened to my very core.

I began talking with Rob on Ron Hood’s Hoodlum forum some 5 years or so ago; when I started picking his brain about synthetic sheaths. Rob was instrumental in helping me get started as a sheath maker and I looked up to him as a mentor of sorts.

Rob really took the time to explain things to me, sent me many pictures of his sheaths and different aspects of the process. He basically helped refine my process to the point where I could get started.

He also gave me a lot of encouragement when I told him that I wanted to go full time as a custom sheath maker. That meant a lot to me, and basically solidified my decision.

I remember my excitement about going to the 2003 Blade show in Atlanta. Rob needed some sheaths for the show, and was quite happy that I was coming and could bring them with me. The Friday night of the show at the Waverly, I nervously looked for Rob and his cowboy hat. He wasn’t hard to find.

Out of everyone at the show it was Rob I really came to see. Those few short hours I spent with Rob at the show, talking about the Mid Tech project and future projects was the pinnacle of my career as a sheath maker. It just doesn’t get any better than that. To work on a project like this with such a person is a once in a lifetime thing.

Although I didn’t see the crazy, wild side of Rob, I did see the business side to some degree. Rob was a person who was honest, hard working, funny and knew exactly what he wanted. He was as genuine a man as I have ever met. As someone else said. “ What you see is what you got”.

I talked with Rob a couple of weeks ago, just about the time he was getting ready for the family deer hunt. I had told him that I was only 1. hour from Cabelas. He responded by saying “You Suck!”. I laughed and rubbed it in a little…This was the last time we spoke.

The world won’t be the same without Rob, and I’m really going to miss him.

Christine and Megan.

My thoughts and love are with you and your family.

“ Above the Canyon Wall, Strong Eyes Did Glow. It Was The Leader of the Land, Baby!

The Great White Buffalo..” – T. Nugent

Sincerely

Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
 
My contact with Rob was always by email and telephone, and he is one of the very few who I never met that I would trust with my wallet, guns, knives or hunting dogs. Those of you who knew him know what I mean. Rob was trustworthy. A throwback to a more pure time where men were men and didn't apologize for it.

To his close friends and family, you are each in my prayers.

See you on the other side, Rob.
 
Is there any update on Robs brother. The last posting regarding his condition was several day ago.


Godspeed to Robs family and friends.


Steve
 
During the twenty-some-odd years I have been active in the knife community I have lost some friends and some heroes…Frank Vought, a brilliant designer and real fighter in the game of life…Colonel Applegate whose life defined hero…and now, Rob Simonich.

What a grand run at life Rob took, a grand run at life with a great core honesty that the sun shone brightly on. That essential honesty was certainly reflected in his knives. Damn, they are fine.
He shared his ideas, whether he was talking steels or talonite, sheaths or design. And he shared his life stories, struggles and challenges with great courage and an amazing sense of humor. Coming to know him, I saw Rob as a man who approached life as a heroic adventure in the face of some really big odds.

Heinlein said through his character Lazarus Long, “If you love life, take big bites…” Big bites inspires memories of Rob in a couple of ways. When he drank, he drank big. When he ate, Rob ate big. His nickname amongst the Camillus group was “starving eagle,” awarded him for his insatiable appetite at the dinner table. He took big bites in the knife business too…first with his Talonite and recently, MidTech. I was so happy for Rob that the future was looking bright.

The Norse say that no man dies until his word-fame dies. If that is true, Rob will not die until I do, for I will recount good times with Rob to the end of my life…and in the meantime, I will remember that big smile, his kindness and sense of honor, and the friendship of a good man who could ride, shoot straight, and who spoke the truth.

Ethan Becker
 
Hi Ethan,

At Blade 2003 Rob ate over half my prime rib and baked potato when he stopped by our table to say Hi. Always eating when he could. A memory I will always hold dear to my heart.
 
This is from Rob's funeral service.

simonich.JPG
 
Having never had the pleasure of meeting this fine man, I have admired his work.
About the ONLY thing that matters in life is what people think of you when you're gone and how you treat people while here in this life, seems Rob had both down pat. Ron
 
I don't know about you, but my impression is that knife people are very special. They are very giving of their time and knowledge. Rob was one of these people. I'm very sorry that I never had the chance to meet him. I am very impressed with his legend. He was one of the great ones.
 
Rob was the man who made the very first custom knife I ever had made. He was such a cool guy and excellent maker, I had 3 more knives made by him. He also introduced me to a place called Bladeforums. As I am sure he is in a better place, grinding steel for the warriors in Valhalla, my sympathy goes to his wife and family. You will be missed Rob.
 
I hope Ron does not mind my cutting and pasting this here from his forum, but it moved me to tears, and it seemed like one good way for those of you who did not know the man, Rob Simonich, personally, to learn how special he was, and as a remembrance for those who DID know him:

"Hi folks.

I met up with my old friends Mike Fuller and Trace Rinaldi (little Trace too) as well as Alan Jensen, Ron Clark and Rob Patton for the drive up to Helena Montana. Once there we gathered forces with Paul Bos and Gerry Hossom.

All of us shared a brotherhood with our friend Rob. It was heartrending to listen to and then tell stories about our friend.

On a cold, windblown Saturday morning Robs Friends and family gathered on the Simonich hunting grounds for the native American burial. When Rob's coffin, a plain pine box as he would have chosen, was removed from the hearse the wind speed picked up and a few flurries of snow blew through the crowd of close to 200 folks. The Native American Elder then conducted the ceremony amidst drums and singing. It was a beautiful ceremony. Guests were told not to cry as our tears would hold his spirit to the earth. We did our best. Big tough men dressed in heavy jackets shielded their tears behind sunglasses and cowboy hats. Somehow we made it through the ceremony without a drop hitting the ground. Each of us tossed a handful of dirt on the coffin and walked away.

That part hurt.

On our way back to town we passed the site of the crash. We got out of the cars to pay homage to Rob. The ground was still explicit with the death. Parts of the vehicle were scattered here and there. Mike found his license plate and Rob Patton and Ron Clark built a small stone monument to Rob. I took a pebble for my medicine bag. No one was unaffected by this stop.

Later we all gathered at Christines home to look over Robs shop and feel his presence. To see his gloves sitting where he placed tham on that fateful day, the astonishing custom blades he was woking on and the new designs, really underscored the sense of loss. I can't begin to describe the feelings. I looked at the phone Rob used to use to call me to "visit" while he worked in the shop and I really sensed the loss. He won't be calling me anymore. Tears were OK there.

We visited with Christine for awhile and finally took our leave.

Christine needs help.

When I returned home I found we'd received some generous donations from several folks. If anyone can spare $5.00 or even a dollar for Christine, we'd be obliged. I'll be sending this first batch of donations along tomorrow but anything anyone can do would be of help. Rob was the bread winner.

It's a tough time for the knife community. We all are trying to help in anyway possible.

Ron"

edited to add the original link to Ron's post at his forum: http://pub1.ezboard.com/fhoodlumsbladeware.showMessage?topicID=2186.topic
 
About 4-5 years ago, when I first became interested in knives, I decided to try my hand at a "kit knife".

After doing some searches on the Net for "knife kits", I came across some obscure post somewhere about some guy by the name of Simonich who had kits for sale.

I called this guy up, and we ended up chatting for about a 1/2-hour of so--just talking about knives, what a beginner should try his hand at, etc., etc.

It wasn't until years later, I realized that it was the Rob Simonich that took time out of his trememdously busy schedule to chat with a neophyte about making a kit knife.

While I never met Rob in person, but from the first time I ordered his knife kit, I had corresponded from time to time via email, and of course read his posts here on USN.

I still have the "Cetan" model kit knife Rob sold me so many years ago--after finishing it, its been one of my favorite "users".

God Bless.
 
Brian,
Thanks for forwarding my post on the Hoodlums That was fine.

For everyone else. The information about the donations was meant for the "Hoodlums" who have taken up many causes over the years. The rule for donations is simple... A check or money order made out to the intended recipient... in this case Christine Simonich. If you want to contribute you can send donations to us and we will forward to Christine with the others or you can simply send them to Christine.

The knife community as represented by BladeForums has many efforts underway. Our campaign is from a different community, wilderness skills folk. our little forum is only 1300 strong but to a person, we care, deeply.

Thank you

Ron
 
I have the honor to be among the "Camillus group" who, along with Wallace Fenell, Will Fennell, Jim Furgel (Camillus President) Ethan Becker, Jerry Fisk, Darrel Ralph, Dexter Ewing, and Steve Shackleford got to spend the better part of a week with Rob after Blade Show 2002 at the Camillus hunting cabin in South Carolina. I was "Little Jerry", Jerry Fisk was "Big Jerry" because although I outweigh him by 30 lbs or more, he is a giant in the industry...& I aint! Dexter was "The Asian Blade"

Rob was "Skinny Eagle" one minute, "Starving Eagle" the next. Rob took it all with good humor, and was graceful even after being stalked by an ardent female at the show. Always a gentleman, Rob left her untouched...but smiling because of his kindness.

A memory:

I had a bunch of cash in my pocket, and really liked the knife Rob had on his belt. It was a prototype of a new design. I offered to buy it and he said "Nope, not until its ready". A consummate professional, he never put the dollar before his name, cherishing his craft as much as we all treasure his memory.

Starving Eagle has entered the clearing at the end of his path, I am sure he immediately hunkered down and started working steel.

Peace,

GHEN
 
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave (Dakota proverb). The tracks Rob left were all good medicine.
 
I remember Rob as a very kind and extremely honest guy. Although I have never met him in person, we have corresponded via email a great deal during the CPM-10v Cetan project several years back. This is around the same time frame when talonite was being tested.

He will be greatly missed and the world is definately a lesser place without him.

My condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
 
Robert Norman Simonich
CLANCY - Rob Simonich, "Four Star Big Bear" (Neo Asak Askeema Ska), 45, of Clancy, died on Nov. 28, 2003, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident while returning home from a plentiful hunting trip.

Rob was loved, admired and respected by people of all walks of life. His engaging personality attracted people to join in his large circle of friends. He loved people and was loved by many.

Rob was born in Butte on Oct. 3, 1958, and spent most of his youth in the Whitehall and Boulder area where he cowboyed on several ranches. He became an avid outdoorsman, gifted as an Indian pipe maker and knife maker and a lifelong collector of Indian and Western artifacts.

Rob eventually settled in Clancy and worked several years as crew supervisor in the Pegasus Gold Mine in Jefferson City.

From his youth on he made knives as a hobby and in his spare time worked to fill an ever-growing demand for his finely crafted utility knives. In recent years he devoted full time to knife making and teamed with his wife Christine to form "Simonich Knives LLC." Now renowned worldwide as an expert in his field, one of his knives, the Urban Raven, was recently awarded "American Made Knife of the Year" by Blade Magazine.

Rob was especially proud of his Indian heritage, which included ancestry in the Chippewa-Cree tribe. He was a pipe maker, a student of Indian herbal medicine and was devoted to all spiritual practices. He was gifted with the name Four Star Big Bear (Neo Asak Askeema Ska) that he coveted and revered as a badge of great honor.

His father and mother Norman and Betty Simonich and his son Rob preceded him in death.

He is survived by his beloved wife and sole mate Christine; adored daughter, Megan; sisters Terry Brooks of Hemphill, Texas, and Sandy Randall of Whitefish; and brother Tony of Helena.

A traditional Indian burial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, south of Whitehall. From Whitehall, turn south on Highway 55 toward Twin Bridges. After about 5 miles look for "Four Star Big Bear" signs as a guide to the burial site. A memorial service/feast will be held in Clancy at the Simonich home at 97 Old Alhambra Road following the burial service. It expected to begin about 2 p.m.

The family of Rob requests that those who desire to give memorial gifts support four summer Horse Dance Ceremonies in Rob's memory. Send gifts to Christine P.O. Box 278, Clancy.




God Bless you Rob!
I didn't know you, but I feel like I did!

:(
 
this is my very first post to this forum after lurking for some time--noticed this thread, but didn't really NOTICE this till I saw that many of the other threads were more or less rivetted on this topic ...

I'm going to do my homework on him after the holidays, but it's glaringly obvious to me on reading the heartfelt eulogies in this thread that Rob was someone who MATTERED.

my thoughts go out to those who loved him and thanks for sharing your thoughts

hideo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top