Roy M. Bigenho

 

Tribute & Message From The Family

Roy Melvin Bigenho, of Escondido, CA., died from a 2-year battle with cancer on July 8, 2011.

Born October 11, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pa, he was the second of three children of Albert and Thelma (Brown) Bigenho. As a child he loved building model airplanes, dazzling his piano teacher, Mrs. Williams, with his virtuosity, and taking dancing lessons from Gene Kelly’s sister, Louise Kelly Bailey, at her studio in Pittsburgh. During his teen years Roy with his older brother, Al, worked hard as caddies at the Green Oaks Country Club located across from their home earning money for dates, motorcycles and college.

During high school, Roy, was the lanky runner from Penn Hills High who in 1946 won the state championship in the mile and with other victories earned the coveted Joseph A Lerew Memorial Plaque awarded to only one track and field participant. He was also the captained of Penn’s cross-country team, which received many accolades throughout several years. After graduating from Penn in 1946 Roy went on to attend University of Pittsburgh excelling in math and engineering, then joined the Navy as an officer and started flight training.

In November 1950 Roy married his love, Lilyan Hanes, and almost immediately afterwards departed to help fight the war in North Korea. For the next two years he wrote letters home almost daily, lonesome for his new wife and soon-to-be-new family and wishing that his flight missions could be transferred to somewhere warmer. With only short respites back home to California, his first daughter, Karen was born in 1951 and a second daughter Marla in 1952. Soon after the war Roy was transferred to Naples, Italy where his son, Roy Jr. was born in 1955.

After Naples the Navy transferred Roy to Oxford, Mississippi where he studied electrical engineering at Ole Miss earning a special plaque for achieving a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in the shortest amount of time in the University’s history. He then went on to specialized graduate work earning an additional degree at the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School at Monterey, CA.

During the cold war Roy was stationed at Jacksonville, Florida, Brunswick, Maine, and at the Naval Base at Keflavik, Iceland where among many of his duties, he would go out on patrol searching for enemy submarines and marking them with dropped cans of paint whenever possible. In the early sixties the Navy recruited Roy to come to the Pentagon where, unfortunately, he would be required to retire from flying. He remained at the Pentagon for the next 7 years where his electrical engineering skills helped contribute to a more efficient, effective global communication systems for the Navy.

Commander Roy Bigenho, in 1969 at the age of 41, retired from the Navy with over 21 years of active service. His decorations and medals included Air Medal (3 stars), Korean Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Victory Medal WW II, Navy Occupation Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award).

In 1970 Roy and Lilyan with their children moved to Solana Beach, Ca. where Roy preceded to work for several defense oriented companies. He retired from Honeywell in the late 1980’s.

In 1993 Lilyan died after a short battle with cancer and a year later in 1994 Roy married Esther Pearl. Roy and Esther honeymoon in Hawaii, and soon afterwards moved to their new house in Emerald Heights, Escondido. Roy welcomed his new wife’s children, Becky and Rob, and their families, as his own.

Many years were enjoyed traveling to Mexico and to see friends and family. Roy, a deeply devoted husband, thoughtfully cared for Esther for several years whose slowly progressing illness led to her passing in April 2010.

Roy, the engineer, was meticulous with details, and at his best when he was in control. He had a brilliant inventive mind. Projects were completed, attempted but not finished, or stored in his organized thoughts for the future. He was a heated Republican and a wonderful caretaker to both of his wives who predeceased him. Roy was a faithful almost fanatical Costco shopper.

He was also the most uncomplaining patient in his own illness even when pain was great, respectful not only to his family but to his long-term helpers, Cecilia and Janet. He loved his loyal cat Pumpkin. He commanded much honor and dignity from both close and casual acquaintances and will be missed greatly by his large loving family.

Roy is survived by his children and their respective spouses, Karen Bell of Escondido, and Marla Newell of Belvedere, (son Roy Bigenho predeceased), Becky Matthews and Rob Pearl, both of Escondido. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, father, Cliff Wood of Del Mar, and brothers and sisters; Albert Bigenho of Texas, Lois Sharlock of Pennsylvania and "special sister" Ellen (Bigenho) Spain of Pennsylvania.