Bob and Marilyn Athenour
Bob and Marilyn Athenour devoted themselves to serving our community by strengthening the bonds between Pleasanton and our Sister City, Tulancingo. They touched the lives of so many through their generous deeds. It seemed only fitting that they should be honored by establishing a scholarship in their names. Both Bob and Marilyn were educators who valued opportunities that support the growth of our local students.
Marilyn Athenour was a native of Livermore and graduated from Livermore High School in 1947 and maintained lifelong friendships with many of her friends. Marilyn loved people and cherished her job as a teacher’s aide and health services liaison in the Pleasanton public schools. She believed each student had unique qualities and brought out the best in each of “her kids”. She reconnected with an old friend who had returned from the service, Bob Athenour of Sunol. They married in 1957 and bought their first home in Pleasanton where they lived for more than 60 years. She was an amazing Mom-grandma-friend-aunt-neighbor and will be missed by all.
Bob, a native of Sunol, graduated from Amador Valley High School and San Jose State University. After military service Bob taught Spanish and French at Amador for 27 years. In 1972 Bob started a travel agency in Pleasanton which allowed him to travel the world and led groups of youth and adults on many adventures. In 1961, he was instrumental in American Field Services, the first student exchange program for Pleasanton. Bob was an exchange student himself in Mexico and fell in love with the Mexican culture and language. Bob co-founded the Pleasanton-Tulancingo Sister City Association in 1984 and was an inspirational leader of the organization. He is loved by many in Tulancingo, as evidenced by the statue in Plaza Cultural La Floresta, the main plaza of Tulancingo. Bob was also an active Rotarian and very passionate about delivering thousands of wheelchairs around the world to those in need. He led his life in service to others and is deeply missed.
