Dear CCA Community,

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Robert Bechtle, esteemed photorealist painter and valued member of the CCA community, passed away on September 24 at a hospice in Berkeley at the age of 88. 

Bob was a vital member of the art community, especially here in the Bay Area where he lived his entire life, He was a masterful artist and educator, and an inspirational figure to many. His paintings found understated and unexpected beauty in the vernacular of American life. His work is in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art, among others.

He was a beloved and venerable part of the CCA family, and his impact on the college and its students will long be remembered. Bob has been central to the fabric of our school since he first enrolled to earn his undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Design. He went on to earn an MFA in painting, and served as a member of our faculty for almost 30 years. The college is proud to have him as one of our most prestigious alumni, and awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in 2007.

It has been a great privilege of mine to know Bob and his wife Whitney Chadwick. He brought such a warm presence to the college and generously supported our students. I know it will be hard for many in our community to think of CCA without him. A memorial service is pending and we will share more information as plans are made. In the meantime, if you have memories of Bob you’d like to share, please send them to the Alumni Association at alumni@cca.edu.

The CCA community’s thoughts are with Bob’s family and friends. It’s been an honor to have him in our lives, and his loss is deeply felt.

Sincerely,

Stephen Beal

President