Goodybye, C. Bobby

I can't describe how sad this makes me:Robert 'Bobby' Cook -- owner of S.F. tavern that was full of owls

Robert "Bobby" Cook was a man who liked owls.

He collected owl paintings, owl sculptures, owl knickknacks, owl stained-glass light fixtures and stuffed owls. He displayed them all inside C. Bobby's Owl Tree, a downtown San Francisco tavern that he owned for 30 years.

"He just enjoyed owls,'' said his son Michael Gardner. "Something about owls stuck in his mind.''

Mr. Cook, 75, died Sept. 14 of cancer in a San Francisco hospital, a few hours after mixing martinis for his regular customers and shutting down his bar for the night.

The Owl Tree Was a class act. One of my favorite bars in San Francisco. Ice in the urinals. Strong drinks. And, of course, owls. Owls everywhere.

Bobby poured a hell of a cocktail and ran one of the best bars in the city. His dog was frequently in the bar with him. And he was pure class. A dying breed of bartender who dressed well, spoke well, and exuded elegance. Along with the 7-11 Club, The Owl Tree was one of my favorite places in San Francisco to get a drink.

I loved it. And I always admired the man who ran it.

A funeral will be held today at 7:30 p.m. at Halsted N. Gray-Carew and English mortuary, 1123 Sutter St., San Francisco. Tip your glass to C. Bobby this evening.