By Kirsten Coachman | Edited by June Lin Umfress
I have written and rewritten the opening line to this piece for months, yet none of the words that hit the page feel worthy of Bob Toy and the artistic legacy he left in the wake of his passing last November.
For those of us who were privileged enough to work alongside him during his time as Publications and Special Projects Manager at Academy of Art University, he was a beloved colleague, treasured friend, and mentor.
Bob was truly a man of many hats, an artist through and through who lived an extraordinary life. His passion for creativity was seemingly limitless—he was always ready to expand his skill set for whatever a certain project called for. Among his many artistic hats, he was a painter, filmmaker, graphic designer, photographer, and writer.
“He had this incredible eye for the intersection of technical ability and artistry,” said former Art U News Layout Designer June Lin Umfress, who was recruited by Bob after working with him on the Academy’s augmented reality catalog as a newly minted Academy alum (Advertising, M.F.A. 2013). “You could see that in all of his work and the floats—incredible artistic expression.”
When we first walked through the doors of the Publications office, Bob treated us like we were family, always checking in to see how things were going and how he could best support us, from handling Photoshop magic to lending an ear. I feel extremely grateful to have had the chance to share so many conversations, not just about our work with Art U News but also about the various creative endeavors we hoped to pursue in the future. He provided space for our team to keep it real while always encouraging us to see the positives in every situation.
Since Bob’s passing, a Rolodex of memories has been top of mind every time I sit down to write.
I remember back in the spring of 2013 when I made the jump to Publications as the paper’s Assignment Editor—June and I were still finding our sea legs as we figured out how to best produce a newspaper every other week—and Bob would pop into the newsroom throughout the day to make sure his two new employees weren’t completely freaking out. (Spoiler alert: We totally were.) He allowed us to creatively problem-solve while fostering an environment that welcomed a bit of silliness, laughter, and the occasional paper plane flying across the office as we painstakingly worked on each edition. He championed us as individuals and our collective efforts as a team.
A memory that keeps coming back to me is just a random afternoon when I went to Bob’s office and opened the door to hear jazz music playing at full volume. He was set up in the middle of his office, sewing part of a costume for the Chinese New Year Parade float. I remember being absolutely bewildered by what I was seeing and hearing, because typically, if Bob wasn’t actively doing a photoshoot, he was behind his desk working away on a project. But that day, Bob was surrounded by the things that brought him joy. Even now, I can’t help but smile.
When I met Bob in 2013, he was quick to share his history at the Academy and how he got to know founder Richard S. Stephens and later became good friends with his son, Richard A. Stephens, when he took up the helm of the university. He often spoke of then-President Stephens’ kindness toward him, and he went out of his way to pay that kindness forward to those he worked with, from faculty and staff to students.
“He was the first person who gave me really an opportunity to get my work published in print, where it was getting circulated through a pretty large community of people,” said former Art U News Photography Intern Joe McGuiggin, who first met Bob during a Photography Club meeting in 2013 and later received his first paid assignment through him. “He was giving me opportunities to grow that I wasn’t gonna get probably any other way. He gave me a lot of opportunities for someone who didn’t have a lot of experience. And he was giving me training and feedback, which was great.”
In early March of 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and while pivoting Art U News from print to online-only, I’d often stay up sending emails, not expecting anyone to answer them until the morning. But a couple of times, if I had sent a quick email to Bob, I would receive a swift response asking why I was up emailing him in the middle of the night instead of resting. He was always making the case for the importance of rest to his staff.
“I probably really owe Bob a debt of gratitude for pushing us to try and to take care of ourselves,” said June. “I don’t know if that’s a common quality in managers when making sure deadlines and quality are being met. He really cared for us as people.”
During this very weird and unprecedented time, Bob checked in on us regularly to see how we were holding up during our new normal. He also never hesitated to send a kind word our way after reading our latest articles.
Dizon, Adianez Crespo, Sang-Chi (Sonia) Su and Aliyah Rosario behind the scenes at the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Monkey. (Right) Bob with Rebecca Delgado Rottman at a screening of his documentary “Ruth Asawa: Roots of an Artist,” at the Aquarium of the Bay in 2013. Photos courtesy of Art U News.
“I remember—I think it was my first piece that I wrote, or maybe like one of the first ones—he sent me some feedback that was really encouraging,” said former Art U News Staff Reporter Greta Chiochetti, who was a new college graduate at the time. “You start a new job, you don’t really know what you’re doing, you’re just trying to figure it out. I remember that being really reassuring. Like, I don’t have coworkers around me, but it feels like we’re a team, and there are people who are interfacing. And I think the first time we formally met was on a Zoom. We saw each other’s faces, and he was just so warm and charismatic the way he is. He just felt like a really welcoming person who had been around for a long time. So it felt like, ‘Okay, if he’s like bringing me into this thing, then it’s gonna be okay.’”
When our team met—and socially distanced—on campus in early 2021 for the first time since we went home in March 2020, Bob came by my office to drop off some soup for Greta and me. If there was one thing Bob was going to do, it was to have immunity-boosting soup at the ready.
“Someone cooking for you is so personal. Just the thought that went into that,” said Greta. “And then he explained it was immunity-boosting soup, and he had made it intentionally because of the pandemic and everything that was happening. I think he also gave us tips on how to boost our immunity. He was talking about different herbs and teas that we could drink. It just felt good to feel like, ‘Okay, he’s one of my supervisors, but he is concerned about my well-being and trying to give it a human touch in a time where it felt like we just saw each other behind screens.’”
For the Publications team, Bob was not only someone we looked to for guidance but also someone who took our burgeoning creative interests seriously and contributed his time and effort to help us grow in our understanding and skills.
I know what Bob has meant to me over the years, and I have been profoundly moved to hear from members of the Publications staff, both present and past, who shared their own memories of Bob and what he meant to them.
“Bob and I grew closer when my interest in personal development began to take shape. We exchanged books, explored ideas in long philosophical conversations, and every so often, he’d invite me over for lunch. I was always struck by his personal library—shelves full of well-worn books—along with his eclectic collection of life’s curiosities and the many pieces of art he had created. His creativity knew no bounds: paintings, musical instruments, even terrarium scenes made from organic plant life. Bob was a man who saw the world differently.
He approached life with a quiet, steady clarity. He believed that what is meant for you finds its way through patience, openness, and trust. He taught us to view challenges as invitations—to pause, reflect, and allow solutions to surface naturally. As both teacher and leader, he opened doors, gave us room to grow, and guided us with care, humor, and understanding. I’m grateful for every lesson he offered; his wisdom continues to shape us, steady us, and remind us to trust the unfolding of our lives.”—Mitchell Griffin, Publications Manager
“One of the things I’ll always remember about Bob was his endless energy and passion for the arts. He was at every event, camera in hand, engaging with industry professionals and students alike. He had a remarkable way of bringing people together, creating connections, and opening doors for anyone pursuing a creative path. I’ll never forget when I mentioned wanting to start taking my own photos for my articles. Within a day, he sent me to the photo department to pick up a camera, then spent hours walking me through lenses, lighting, and technique. He gave me the confidence to try something new and offered guidance and critique with such patience and generosity. He made a lasting difference during my time at the Academy, and I’m grateful for the chance to share that.”—Nina Tabios, former Art U News Staff Reporter
“I’ll always remember Bob’s wonderful stories about immigrating to the U.S., how he became an artist, and how he became a part of the ArtU family.
I worked with Bob for over 10 years. One of the life-changing skills I learned from him was photography. We used to shoot all the school events and functions. From Commencement and the Fine Art Auctions and guest speakers to fashion shows. He taught me how to shoot in low-light situations and how to time the perfect money-shot photos.
He helped me to be more outgoing. Sometimes you don’t have to wait for things to happen. It takes interacting with your subject, and don’t be shy to ask them for a photo. For large group photos, you have to direct the photo how you want the outcome.
All the skills I learned at ArtU propelled me to keep shooting event photography. To the point that I’m doing event photography as a sideline.”—Mateo Tayamen, former Publications Production Manager
“Bob was very generous and was happy to share his advice and always made sure that I knew I could go to him with any questions. I greatly admired his dedication to his work and his expertise.”—Rosalea Kenmore, former Art U News Copy Editor
“Bob was a dedicated, visionary artist and mentor whose commitment to his work and the ideas it fueled was undeniably inspiring. I’ll always remember his rad glasses and how agile he was at any event, no matter how crowded, with his camera. One of my favorite memories was riding Muni with him to an evening Art U event and talking to him about his family and childhood. It was such a mundane moment, but it showed how open-hearted he was and how generous he was even in the smallest of interactions with his story and with his time. I witnessed again and again his commitment to supporting younger generations, either in dedicating hours to the Chinese New Year float elements or even in taking students out to dinner. I’ll always remember the kindness and the spark of energy he’d bring to whoever he crossed paths with.”—Cristina Schreil, former Art U News Staff Reporter
“Bob was a wonderful teacher and colleague. He was a true MacGyver and a brilliant editor. I was honored to know him as a delightful colleague. He will be missed.”—Amanda Vigil, former Art U News Digital Editor
As the Publications team continues to navigate our new reality without Bob at our side, his words of encouragement serve as a lasting memory of not just how we approach our work but also how we support his legacy at the university.
Bob knew that I put a lot of pressure on myself when working on the print editions of Art U News, especially early on. One morning, after covering an industry guest visit the night before, he dropped off a small print from the event on my desk. It read: “Done Is Better Than Perfect.”
These words helped me reframe my mindset, and Bob continued to reinforce them over the years. He knew my goal was to put out the strongest work possible for Art U News, and during each of our calls discussing the latest articles, he would always remind me before we hung up, “Do your best.”
Nothing more, nothing less. Bob always let us know that he believed in us and trusted us to do our jobs. All he asked was that we put forth our best effort and make sure we were taking care of ourselves.
That’s who Bob was to us.
But I want to leave you with a brief sentiment from one of Bob’s sons, Alexander Toy, who shared some poignant parting words during Bob’s Celebration of Life earlier this year.
“When you leave here today, when you think about my dad, I want you to think about art,” said Alexander. “I want you to pick up that guitar collecting dust, I want you to pick up that sketchbook you promised you were going to fill, take those photos that you were going to put in a scrapbook. Take the time for art. Make art. For my dad, for yourself, and for art’s sake.”
