Louis Robert Ulibarri
June 26, 1952 – October 1, 2026

Many friends and family knew him as Bob, Rob, Robbie and Robert.

Rob transitioned peacefully to the spirit world at 74 years old, surrounded by his family, on October 1, 2026, at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

On June 26, 1952, Rob was born in his grandmother Pelagia’s house in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, to his parents, Louis and Mary Ulibarri. He became the godson to his Auntie Emma, his mom’s sister. Rob was a Tribal member from the To’hajiilee/Cañoncito Navajo Chapter, New Mexico, Navajo Nation. When he was just six years old, he sadly lost his father to cancer. The family eventually moved to Oakland, California, where he attended Castlemont and Marina High Schools.

In 1977, Rob and Deb crossed paths when he went to Michael’s preschool to demonstrate his jewelry making, as she was dropping off her son, Michael. They noticed each other immediately but did not interact. Along the way, they began talking through mutual friends. Their interest in one another grew, and they became a couple. Michael was the link to their love. They moved to Hoopa and married there on March 25, 1978. They had their firstborn daughter, Stacy, in the summer of 1979 and their youngest, Raven, in the winter of 1983.

In high school, Rob was a swimmer who proudly wore his Speedos. He was also a Fancy Dancer at powwows during college. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, cooking and grilling, being outdoors, doing construction work, exploring new restaurants and foods, watching movies, boxing, MMA, and car shows.

One of Rob’s fondest memories was his 25th high school reunion in Oakland, where he connected and reconnected with friends. Over the years, he talked about going with Jeff Marshall to the Trinity Alps on horseback for about a week. He remembered it as the most serene and peaceful place, with many bears. He also had a memorable trip rafting and camping in the Grand Canyon.

During the Occupation of Alcatraz, Rob helped his friend, who had a fishing boat, take food, water, and supplies out to the island. Rob also had a friend who was a pilot with access to a single-engine Cessna. They took off from Hayward Airport and landed on the road at Wounded Knee. They unloaded their supplies and took off again before they were caught. When he got back to Hayward, there were two FBI agents inside his house, sitting on his couch, patiently waiting to “have a conversation” with him. Thankfully, he was cleared.

In his early career, he helped his auntie at a restaurant where she worked, and also performed light shows for rock concerts in San Francisco. He was a substance abuse counselor at the American Drug and Alcohol Program (NADAP) in Oakland, California.

Rob attended and graduated from Cal State Hayward, California State University East Bay and Chadwick University. He majored in sociology, Native American studies, and environmental science. Later in life, Rob worked for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Visions Enterprises, RBF Consulting, Winzler & Kelly and LACO Associates.

Rob was a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and had extensive experience in comprehensive land use planning, environmental planning, environmental science, Tribal government community development, and construction management. He served in both the public and private sectors as a senior environmental engineer and planner.

Rob provided planning and environmental services to a host of city, county and Tribal governments throughout the West. As an environmental and policy planner, he provided CEQA/NEPA services, urban design and Phase I Environmental Site Assessments to municipal and Tribal government clients.

Rob also established an environmental protection agency for the Hoopa Valley Tribe. He assisted with master planning and construction project management for one of the first Tribal veterans’ cemeteries in the nation. His work for the Hoopa Valley Tribe included water, air, Superfund, Brownfield and solid waste programs for watershed management, including development of a Water Quality Control Plan for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the first such plan in the State of California.

His contributions were a big part of the foundation on which the Hoopa Tribe stands today. Rob was one of a group of warriors who worked to create ways to effectively and properly exercise Hoopa sovereignty. Rob helped establish Hoopa fishing regulations. He was the first in the nation to define individual Tribal shares of money and Tribal obligations that the 370 SG Tribes still use today.

It is certainly much easier to describe the destination than the uncharted, pioneering journey to get there. Rob was much bigger than what he produced. No one really knows the depth of his contributions. His work was the very definition of self-governing Tribal nation building.

Before Bear River Rancheria was created, Rob visited an older man in a shack who owned the land and wanted to sell it back to the Bear River people. It wasn’t easy, as people protested, but Rob was able to bring the land deal together and eventually helped plan the Bear River Casino.

In 2001, Rob received the Environmental Achievement Award issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of his outstanding leadership in protecting the environment and public health. He received the Conner Byestewa Award for California in 2002, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of outstanding service to Tribal communities.

His most prized honor was the Award of Excellence for Diversity in Planning, which he received in 2019 from the American Planning Association (APA), Northern California Chapter and State APA Chapter, in recognition of his environmental science and planning services to Tribal governments and underrepresented populations.

He devoted much of his time and life to using his talent, skills and knowledge to improve and advance Tribal departments, businesses, and governments, which he did willingly and proudly. He went above and beyond, working tirelessly and serving 189 Tribes. Rob completed many contracts and helped reservations and rancherias become sustainable and prosperous.

Colleagues and friends remember him as intelligent and innovative, someone who appreciated the little things in life, a great mentor and advice giver and a true spirit who will not be forgotten. He encouraged and inspired them.

Since 1965, Rob found joy in creating wearable art as a silversmith and metalsmith. He won hundreds of awards at competitive invitational art shows and the jewelry trade. Rob displayed his work in some of the finest galleries in the United States and Germany.

Rob was honored to have taught his friend and brother, Dr. George Blake, silverwork and metalsmithing. He always spoke of the beauty and power of George’s work. Together, they created jewelry exclusively for the Smithsonian Institution and sold jewelry in the Smithsonian catalog. Rob designed his jewelry hallmark to represent a spider.

In 1987, Rob collaborated with Jerry Simone of United Indian Health Services to create silver pins for their employees. Each feather represented five years of employment. He made about 35 pins, which were designed from a drawing by Jerry.

Rob is survived by his beloved Debbie Kaye, his wife of 48 years and partner of 49 years; daughters Stacy Ulibarri-Canez and Raven Ulibarri (Jumper); grandchildren Analesia “Cubba Cubba” Masten (Pops), Eugene “Bonk a Bonk” Masten Jr., Carmen “Marmen” Ferris (Devlin), and Stanley “Boy” Louis Ferris; great-grandchildren Messiah and Amari Sloan; aunts and uncles Rita Romero White, Erinea Cordova, Jose, Silfredo, and Tony Ulibarri; sisters-in-law Linda Lee and Carrie Turner; nephews and nieces Anna Lustig, Loren Colegrove, Roberta, Robert, and Jody Jackson, Carolyn Lee, Kori Apodaca, April Nix (Sonny), Guy Baldy (Megan), Jess and Chet Lowry, Jacklyn Ames (KG), Pamela Ames (Lisa), Carrie, Naomi, Autumn, and Tekwes Ames, and James Rickaby III; sister/first cousin Mariana Romero from New Mexico; dear friend and brother Jim Pioche from New Mexico; cat Rocky “Good Kitty”; and Pomeranian Pepper from Weitchpus.

Rob was preceded in death by his parents Louis B. Ulibarri and Mary Romero Tarin; stepfather Lonnie Tarin; brother David Ulibarri; son Michael Ames; grandparents Herman and Vitalia Romero, Delphino and Luisita “Louisa” Ulibarri; aunts and uncles Jose, Nerio, Willie, Sylvia, Emma, Julianita, and Felicita Romero, Rebeca, Delfino, Filadelfio, and Ramana Ulibarri; cousin Jerry Romero; parents-in-law Frank Sr. and Ruth Ames; sisters-in-law Alberta Jackson and Carol Ames; brothers-in-law Jody, David, and Tim Ames; niece and nephews Arli and Wyat Lowry, Robbie Lee, and James Marshall; friend who was a brother, Greg Lewis; and his dear cat Titten.

Pallbearers: Eugene Masten Jr., Stanley Louis Ferris, Robbie Boulby, Ryan Ames, Pops Sloan, Devlin O’Neill, James Rickaby III, and Kaydon Matilton.

Honorary Pallbearers: Jim Pioche, Norman DeLorme, Chuck Striplen, Dr. George Blake, Leo Carpenter, Terry Supahan, Clarence Hostler, Loren Colegrove, Robert and Jody Jackson, Guy Baldy, Jess and Chet Lowry, KG Bain, Loren Norton, Leo Canez, Chuck Begaye, Terrance Chitcus Brown, Michael Gabriel, Dominic Obie, Tillman and Shane Anderson, Jim Hatter, Tommy O’Rourke, Joe James, Gilbert Romero, Robert Baca, Chris Peters, Walt Lara Sr., Hop Norris, Wes Crawford, Danny Jordan, Virgil Moorehead, Jack Jackson, Steve Titus, Hirum Campbell, David O’Neill, Edward Baca, Danny Mendoza, Mark McManus, Jerry Simone, Joe Orozco Sr., Inker, Gordon, Charlie McCovey, Steve Baldy, Dale Risling, Jeff Marshall Sr., Steve Burbank, Merv George Jr., Gerald Roybal, Ryan Jackson, Larry and Kevin Orcutt, and David Ruiz.

Visitation took place at Sanders Funeral Home 1835 E St, Eureka, on October 9th, 2026. Services were held at the Neighborhood Facilities Hoopa, CA on October 10th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Dr. George Blake. Interment; Ames/Jake Family Cemetery, Pecwan Village.

Huge thank you and much love to our family and friends who assisted with the logistics of planning, food donations, cooks, preparation/cleanup, singing/prayers; Michael Gabriel, Dominic, Hawk, and Teresina Obie, Carrie Turner, Jacklyn & KG, Pam & Lisa, Shells & Camron, O’s , Autumn, James, Guy & Megan, Chuck Striplen, Dr. George Blake, Dawn Blake-McQuillen, Jacklyn Billings, Rodney Vigil Sr., Leo Canez, and Jenny Piatti. The kind and heartwarming words, condolences, and respects, in person, on social media and texts, as well as donations and shares through this heartbreaking time. Sincere apologies if family or friends were not mentioned.

The funeral cost has yet to be met; anything helps and will relieve the financial pressure on Rob’s wife, Debbie. You may assist by donating or sharing the GoFundMe “Honoring Rob Ulibarri’s Legacy and Life,” daughter Stacy’s Venmo or make payment directly to Sanders Funeral Home 1835 E St, Eureka, CA (707) 442-2941.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bob Ulibarri’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.