Laguna Beach, CA – Born in Turners Falls on April 10, 1942, Robert A. Cardwell passed gently into the night on October 19, 2025. Bob enjoyed a “Tom Sawyer” childhood in Greenfield. He served in the US Army Reserve and graduated from UMass, Amherst in 1965. A post-graduation internship with Wall Street law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore seeded Bob’s ambition to pursue a law career, but he first pursued his love of the sea and diving as a sailor on the 1939 Yacht “Iduna”. Bob spent the next year sailing extensively throughout the Caribbean and the Mediterranean in one of the most amazing and character-building experiences of his life.
Bob entered University of Southern California Law School, graduated with a juris doctorate degree, and was admitted to the California Bar Association in 1967. He joined the prestigious Los Angeles law firm of Morgan, Wenzel & McNicholas where he excelled as a defense lawyer. While opening the firm’s Newport Beach office, Bob fell in love with nearby Laguna Beach, making it his forever home. Bob spent his entire professional life in the field of law, concluding a long, prestigious career with the firm Corbett, Steelman & Specter in 2019.
Bob’s life was abundant and fulfilling. He collected art, and loved dogs and cats, sailing, skiing, rollerblading, bicycling, and hiking. He loved trees and was a skilled pruner. Bob was generous with many charities including one he founded at UMass. He was an ever-helpful neighbor and a trusted, admired, and much-loved friend who will be deeply missed.
Bob was preceded in passing by his parents, Kenneth A. and Mildred M. Cardwell, of Greenfield, his brother Kenneth D. Cardwell, sister-in-law Joan M. Cardwell, his sister Judith A. Provost, and brother-in-law, John R. Provost, Jr. Bob is survived by several cousins, including Chef Bill Cardwell of St. Louis, with whom he enjoyed a close relationship. He is also survived by three generations of nieces and nephews. These include his brother Kenneth’s three daughters and his sister Judith’s two daughters and son. Bob has four grand nieces, three grand nephews, one great-grand niece and two great-grand nephews.
Bob’s memory will be kept alive in love and fondness by his longtime companion Debby Carman. A Celebration of Life will be held at Bob’s Laguna Beach home on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 2:00pm. In Bob’s name and honor please consider donating to the Parkinson’s Foundation, https://www.parkinson.org.
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