I don’t exactly remember meeting Robert Torres. But during my first summer on campus and my sophomore year — a difficult time — I quickly came to learn that, if I walked into the Tiger Cooler around 4 p.m., there was a man behind the counter who would look at me and ask how I was doing. Not that many people actually looked at me at the time, or so it felt — I felt lost a lot of the time. As I ordered my Chai latte and took a slice of pizza, we’d chat about coming back from the pandemic, what his work was like, how class was going — everything and anything. Going to the Cooler to say “hi” became a daily ritual, and Robert was always sweet and caring. I made a friend.
The way he spoke and acted reminded me of my father. It was nice seeing someone else who was Latino on campus. By meeting Robert, in a lot of ways, I no longer felt alone. Sophomore year ended. Things would be okay.
When I returned just a few weeks later for summer research, Robert was nowhere to be found. May 17, 2022, Robert died in a motorcycle accident. Of course, I’d read the email from President Harry Elam before returning to campus but I’d refused to believe it. I was certain he’d be there. I echoed a similar statement writing to a friend that summer: “The truth is I haven’t processed it even a smidge. I remember reading the email and being like, ‘Yeah, that’s another guy, not Robert. It’s not Robert.’ I am in complete denial about it.” Now, two years later, I still miss Robert. I am now graduating, and as I end my journey here, I realize I started it with Robert.
Robert, the assistant director of dining services, worked for Occidental for 15 years. According to the email sent by President Elam, he arrived at the college after working at Mt. Saint Mary’s as a temporary catering manager before being hired as a full-time employee. In 2012 he was promoted to assistant director for catering until he was again promoted in 2017 to assistant director of dining services.
“Robert genuinely believed in Oxy and worked for the College with pride and conviction. He brought a caring personal touch to his work,” Elam said via email. “With his vibrant personality and infectious smile, Robert made people feel at ease.”
Robert is survived by his partner Sandra Saavedra and his four daughters, Jennifer, Kathy, Marisol and Tamara, along with four grandchildren.
“He was very proud to work where he did and I think it shows,” Tamara Torres said. “My dad had a special gift for making everyone feel like such an important person.”
Kathy Torres is currently stationed as a master sergeant in San Antonio, Texas, with her two children. Tamara Torres resides in South Carolina, with her son, Robert, who she named after her father. Marisol Torres lies in Puerto Rico where she runs a small home remodeling business with her husband, while Jennifer Torres is an optometrist office manager in South Carolina. According to Tamara Torres, Robert was from Santurce, Puerto Rico, and moved to California as an adult.
“Everything I do, I want to be like him,” Tamara Torres said. “Everything he did, he did with so much pride, and love and laughter. That’s who he was.”
According to Kathy Torres, Robert valued education, and working at Occidental combined his passion for education, creativity and the culinary arts.
“He loved working at Oxy,” Tamara Torres said. “He would have the hat on when he would come visit us. He would FaceTime and show me around. He knew everybody and he loved everybody.”
Robert’s partner Saavedra supervises the front-of-house and cashier staff at Oxy, and can often be found at the Marketplace. Saavedra said that Robert was extremely passionate about his job and would focus especially on his relationships with coworkers and students. According to Saavedra, Robert would jump in to help any situation he could, from reducing the lines in the Marketplace to putting on an apron to wash dishes. Saavedra said that he made everyone want to feel at home.
Robert’s legacy can be felt all throughout Occidental, not just in the people. According to Amos Himmelstein, the Distinguished Newcomer Award was renamed the Robert Torres Distinguished Newcomer Award in his honor. This award is given in Robert’s name to a staff member or admin based on their performance in their first one to three years working at the College.
According to Saavedra, Robert interviewed her for the job — but their relationship budded two and a half years after working together. Saavedra said that throughout their nine–year relationship, she and Robert often worked side by side.
“We met here, we worked together, we did everything together.” Saavedra said. “I worked with him, and we worked together for the events.”
Saavedra also said Robert knew that working together was the start of something more.
“When he interviewed me, I left the dining hall and went downstairs. He was with another coworker, and from the windows he looked down and told that coworker, ‘You see that woman right there? She’s going to be my wife.’” Saavedra said. “He felt it from the beginning.”
According to Saavedra, their wedding was planned for the same year Robert passed.
“He is the love of my life,” Saavedra said. “He is still in my life.”
Contact Sebastian Lechner at slechner@oxy.edu
