1945 – 2023, A Life well lived

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rob, a renowned and respected leader in the field of Landscape Architecture. With over 50 years of experience, Rob dedicated his life to improving the profession.

Rob began his career at a young age working for his father’s business, Sawyer Nurseries and Landscaping, and later went on to graduate from Cal Poly Pomona in 1968 with a degree in Environmental Design/Landscape Architecture. He then worked for the esteemed firm of Courtland Paul/Arthur Beggs and Associates before founding his own company, Robert M. Sawyer and Associates, in 1974. The company later became Land Concern, Ltd. and under Rob’s leadership, the company received numerous awards and recognitions.

Rob has been actively involved in supporting the Building Industry Association of Orange County (BIASC) and the California Landscape Architectural Student Scholarship Fund (CLASS Fund) for many years. He has served on the Board of Directors of CLASS Fund since 1982, and was the Chairman of the Board in 1990. He has been a major contributor to the success of this organization, which has raised over $1.5 million dollars in its endowment fund since its inception and has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to students in need of financial aid in the field of landscape architecture, ornamental horticulture/plant science, and irrigation science.

Rob has also been a mentor to many of the students who were awarded Intern Scholarships. He served on the Board of Directors for the Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) and was the 2001 past president of that organization. In 1998, he received the Max Tipton Award of Excellence for his contributions to the SMC and to the Building Industry Association of Orange County.

Rob was licensed to practice landscape architecture in 4 states and was a past member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation Board of Directors.

Rob is survived by his wife Janet of 55 years 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren.

In his free time Rob was an avid enthusiast of anything with a motor and loved attending local races and car shows.

Rob will be remembered for his compassion, work ethic, and dedication. He was a true pioneer and leader, mentoring many young professionals and leaving a lasting impact on the field. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

In the spirit of Rob’s generous help throughout the years working with CLASS Fund, we encourage those who knew and loved Rob to donate in memory of him.