Robert Glendon Bridgeford

Published 5:00 am Sunday, April 28, 2013

Dec. 1, 1943 – April 11, 2013

Former Executive Director of the Portland Childrens Museum, Robert (Bob) Bridgeford, died April 11 at home in Central Oregon following a decline in health related to chronic illness. For the past decade Bob lived in Sisters with wife, Annie Painter, where he continued leadership work as president of the Deschutes Watershed Council and returned to graduate school, becoming a therapist at Deschutes County Mental Health.

During his more than 25 years as Executive Director of the Childrens Museum, the organization flourished and grew from the beloved little brick building (a former nurses residence for OHSU) on Lair Hill Park, to a nationally recognized, regional treasure that included ground breaking exhibits and innovative programming. Always based on childhood developmental research, families loved the PLEASE TOUCH exhibits. A seasonal favorite was the Ten Best and Ten Worst Toys exhibit, always judged by childhood development specialists. Innovation included outreach as well with the popular Homes on the Go featuring an authentic Chinese Junk, an Airstream Trailer and a fully furnished Yurt.

Bob was an avid car guy, a Jaguar show judge with two E-type Jaguars meticulously restored and many show awards.

Bob is survived by his wife, Annie Painter Bridgeford, Sisters, OR; daughters, Kristen Bridgeford of Portland, OR and Allison Baerin of Sunnyvale, CA; sister, Mary Bridgeford Cooper in Milton-Freewater, OR; and nieces, Kate Cooper, Portland, OR, and Elizabeth Cooper from Boise, ID.

The family requests that any contributions be made in Bob’s memory to the Deschutes Land Trust.