May 22, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Former Santa Monica Mayor Bob Holbrook Passes Away

Holbrook passes away Friday at age of 79 

By Sam Catanzaro

Former Santa Monica Mayor Bob Holbrook has passed away at the age of 79. 

Holbrook–Santa Monica’s longest continuously serving City Councilmember–passed away at his home Friday, December 11 after a long illness. 

He first assumed public office in 1982 as a School Board Member, the beginning of 32 years as an elected official in Santa Monica.

“After two terms on the School Board I ran for Council and I’ve often joked that the reason for my successful run was, as President of the School Board, I had handed out the diplomas at the Samohi graduations and so I was known by so many families,” Holbrook–a graduate of Samohi himself–told the Mirror in 2014. 

Holbrook was born in 1941 in Santa Monica at the former St. Catherine’s Hospital on 4th Street. After World War II, his father returned from the Navy and they moved to Ocean Park. Bob and his sister Cherie attended John Muir, John Adams and Samohi schools. 

“In our last semester at Samohi everyone took a class to prepare us for the work world,” Holbrook said in 2014. “It was in the Ocean Park Library, doing my homework, and I found out from the reference book I was using that I was eligible to go to college. Because of the Great Depression my parents hadn’t been able to go to college so my going was a big deal in my family.

“I went to SMC and I also worked at McCarthy Drug Store on Montana Avenue. The owner, Tom McCarthy, was the Mayor of Santa Monica at that time and he gave me my first exposure to what it meant to be in politics. I liked him. I learned so much from him. He was a good guy and always helping everyone,” Holbrook added. 

After SMC Holbrook went to USC and earned a pharmacist’s degree before joining the California Air National Guard. 

“It is the only time in my life I’ve been away from California for so long. I spent six months in Texas and Alabama being trained by the Air Force,” Holbrook said. “They asked me to enlist and become an officer. I had different ideas. I wanted to come home and marry Jean Ann. I came back to California and got a job working as a pharmacist at Thrifty Drug Store.” 

Jean Ann and Holbrook married in 1967 living in a house on 10th Street, and soon after had three children: Bob Jr., Cindy and Craig. 

“By 1982 we had three kids in their early teens. Jean Ann talked to me about the School Board. The School and the College Boards were going to split into two Boards. That meant there would be open seats on the Boards and Jean Ann suggested I run for the School Board,” Holbrook

Holbrook did run and was elected serving two terms. In 1990 he decided to run for City Council and emerged as the second-highest vote-getter in the election. Holbrook went on to serve continuously on the Council for a record six terms until 2014. 

As Mayor, Holbrook sought means to combat homelessness and improve the quality of Santa Monica’s public spaces; an instrumental force in building Tongva Park and a memorial at Woodlawn Cemetery to honor local veterans. His impact was felt far beyond the borders of Santa Monica. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mayor Holbrook led an aid effort sending trucks, forklifts and cranes to Bayou La Batre, Louisiana. 

Holbrook is survived by his wife Jean Ann, their children Bobby Jr., Cynthia and Craig along with four grandchildren.

Due to the pandemic there will be a private burial. A public celebration of Bob’s life will be post pandemic.

<>Related Posts

Exclusive Interview with Cardinale du Vin’s New Chef-in-Residence Paul Chuanchaisit

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

The Westside Wine Bar Expands Its Culinary Horizons With a Bold New Menu By Dolores Quintana Cardinale du Vin is...

Palisades Bakery Aids Displaced Residents with Deliveries, Cookbook Donations After Fire

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The bakery’s relief effort is aimed at ensuring that displaced residents continue to have access to familiar foods during recovery...

Memorial Day Weekend in L.A.: Rosé, Beach BBQs, and Brunches Ring in the Summer

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Westside Is Packed With Culinary Events, Pop-Ups, and Parties This Weekend Angelenos looking to kick off the summer season...

Summer at Annenberg Beach House to Include Sunset Picnics, Yoga Classes and the Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Beach House, located on the former Marion Davies estate, remains free and open to the public The Annenberg Community...

(Video) Interview with Chef Roy Choi for his new book The Choi of Cooking

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

We speak with the world-famous Socal Chef in Manhattan Beach at the Los Angeles Public Library.

FDA Probes Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Recalled Cucumbers Distributed in California

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

At Least 26 People Sickened and 9 Hospitalized in Multiple States  Federal health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of...

10th Annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street Comes to Santa Monica This Weekend

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Annual board game-inspired food event set for Sunday, May 25 The 10th annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street will...

Michelin Three Star Institution Brings 20th Anniversary Culinary Experience to Beverly Hills

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Grant Achatz’s Alinea Heads to Beverly Hills for Summer Residency Renowned chef Grant Achatz and his team at Alinea, Chicago’s Michelin...

$2.2M Awarded to LA County for Wildfire Prevention Ahead of 2025 Fire Season

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The grants mark the first disbursement of funds from Proposition 4, a bond measure that provides millions for wildfire resilience...

(Video) Classic Cars and Hot Rods Showcased During Santa Monica Pier’s Locals Night

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season. pic.twitter.com/mUo6hMJpPZ —...

State Farm Seeks New Insurance Rate Hikes for California Homeowners and Renters

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Insurer Aims to Raise Premiums by up to 52% for Some Policyholders by 2026 Just one week after receiving approval...

Mayor Bass Launches Major Initiative to Boost Film Production in Los Angeles After Years of Neglect

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Facing Industry Setbacks, L.A. Rolls Out Plan to Attract On-Location Shoots In a renewed effort to preserve Los Angeles’ status...

Santa Monica Airport to Host Air Taxi Flights for VIPs and Fans During LA28

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

The aircraft will also support emergency services and security operations While Santa Monica will no longer serve as a competition...

Woman’s Car Stolen from UCLA Valet in Santa Monica While Visiting Husband in ICU

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Couple Left Without Vehicle During Cancer Treatment After Thief Stole Keys Brittney Mickles-McQuirter, a local Montessori school teacher, says she...