Robert DeVee

Robert DeVee

1940-2016

Robert was a very talented artist who specialized in large impressionist paintings as well as silkscreens and monoprints. He lived for many years in Sonoma County, first in Cazadero, and then Sebastopol.  After he and Ren Brown got together in 1981, they eventually moved to Bodega Bay and opened The Ren Brown Collection art gallery in 1989.

As a young man Robert danced with the Oakland Civic Ballet and performed with Ronn Guidi who later became the Founding Artistic Directors of the Oakland Ballet.  Then at age 40 he took up competitive dance roller skating.  His coach for many years was Linda Galletta who became the Founding Director of the Sebastopol Center of the Arts.

Ren convinced Robert to join him in square dancing, first with the Foggy City Dancers in San Francisco, and then with the Redwood Rainbows.  He loved dancing, but never really got the hang of square dancing, despite starting six or eight beginner's classes.

He will be remembered for his ready smile, his sweet disposition, and his joyous artwork, even if he couldn't succeed at square dancing.