Bobby Avant

Sept. 17, 1939 - Oct. 31, 2024

Bobby Jack Avant was born in Texas on September 17, 1939 to Jack and Irene Avant. He moved with his parents and brother, Harry, to California, where he attended Hart High School in Newhall, began competing in track, and met his life-long love, Deanna. He went to the University of Southern California on a full scholarship for his track prowess and married Deanna during his freshman year in 1958. At USC, Bob was the third man in the world to clear 7 ft in the high jump, was ranked 1961’s second best US high jumper, and made the US National Track Team even as he and Deanna began a family with first Debbi and then Rob. When his high jumping career was interrupted by a neck injury in 1963, he refocused his efforts on teaching and coaching. He began his teaching and coaching career at Arcadia High School, and then moved to San Diego where he spent the rest of his career at several high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District (Santana, Monte Vista, Valhalla, El Capitan, and Granite Hills). From biology teacher and coach, he moved to counselor, then vice principal, and principal. He finished his career as Superintendent of the district, for which he won the Kurt Fredrich Award for professional integrity when faced with adversity. He had the ultimate respect for teachers, something he tearfully attested to at his retirement party. After his retirement, he went on to teach and mentor prospective administrators at San Diego State University. He had high standards – for himself and for others – but they were tempered by his personal warmth. He treated his schools as family. From BBQs for track teams to pool parties for colleagues to wine dinners for friends, he and Deanna loved to cook and host and were fixtures in the community. Long after his retirement, he loved nothing more than running into old colleagues and students – and even dementia did not take away his memories of them. When he wasn’t working, he loved basketball and was an avid golfer. And for years, he spent his two-week summer vacation camping. The California Redwoods, Glacier National Park, and the Grand Tetons were favorites. After he retired, he loved to travel with Deanna – from camping to river boat cruises with friends in Europe and the USA to frequent trips to Santa Fe to visits to Debbi’s family in upstate New York, Washington, DC, and Denver. Bob loved (and took great pride in) Debbi and Rob and their spouses, Tim and Janice, along with his grandchildren (Dan, Brandon, Lexa, Alec, Alyssa, and Jack), and great-grandchildren (Mason, Silas, Arthur, and Everly). But he saved his greatest love for Deanna. Until the very end, it was her voice and touch that would bring a smiling softness to his face. Everyone who knew him will remember Bobby most as the ultimate tease. When asked what he wanted, he would reply to most anyone “5 pounds of $50 bills”. He teased everyone from wait staff to check out persons to close friends and family to his caregivers toward the end of his life. During his last hospital stay (five years into dementia with a hip fracture and terminal pneumonia) he told the nutritionist that he “hated to inform her but the food was not that great”. Though his life was full of accomplishments, among the greatest is the wide circle of family and friends that will miss his teasing. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to the Grossmont Union High School District "in memory of Bob Avant". Donations can be mailed to: Grossmont Union High School District (attn Fiscal Services), 1100 Murray Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020.