Robert A. Donati was born on April 10, 1958, in Santa Maria and passed away on March 18, 2026 near Aromas, California. Bob was a lifelong resident of the Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo area and attended
local schools before continuing his post-secondary education at Hartnell College in Salinas, where he
was an active member of the Rodeo Team.
Bob pursued a career as a cattle buyer and auctioneer, dedicating more than 40 years to the profession.
He graduated from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Marion, Iowa, in 1983 and was working
at the 101 Livestock Market at the time of his death.
He was the son of Gerald and Alta Donati and is survived by his three sisters: Barbara Donati of Perth,
Australia; Gerry Wright of Hollister, California; and Peggy Vas Dias of Half Moon Bay, California. Bob had
a niece, Cara Vas Dias, and a nephew, Todd-who fondly remembers his travels with “Uncle Bob.”
Bob will be remembered as a very entertaining man with a quick wit. His legacy is remembered fondly
by family, friends, and all who had the privilege to know him, especially within the rodeo and cattle
raising communities.
If you would like to make a donation in Bob’s memory, please make it out to the “Bailer Buckaroo
Rodeo,” a program at Hollister High School for special education students through the Future Farmers of
America. Please send your contribution to the Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home at 870 San
Benito Street, Hollister, California 95023 (email: grunnagles@gmail.com)and they will see that it gets to
the proper channels at the High School.
There will be no memorial services.