A Remembrance of Bob Palazzo
by Darryl Thomson

Bob was the real life Dos Equis man: he was the most interesting man in the world.

He was such a fun guy and good friend, and one of the reasons I chose to go to UCLA. We had a lot of fun going to UCLA football and basketball games and bowling on the intramural team, and we played a lot of golf. He got his BA from UCLA and was honored as the outstanding senior in my graduating class in 1973. He went on to get his law degree from USC.

In addition to being a CPA and an attorney, Bob was also a judge and a college professor of business law at Moorpark College. He traveled the world and wrote six books on the history of Death Valley.

He leaves behind a wife and a 12 year old son.

Robert Palazzo Beloved Moorpark College Business Law Professor

After complications from his acute illness, Robert Palazzo, a former business law professor at Moorpark College, passed away on January 22, 2019

Palazzo was a licensed attorney for 43 years and established his own practice in the Conejo Valley in 1976. He also was a former member of the arbitration committee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Palazzo earned his CPA, MBA, and a law degree. First admitted to the bar in 1976, in four years he was approved to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Palazzo taught business law for nearly 20 years at Moorpark College. He used his vast work experience in law to provide students with real-life experiences that proved beneficial.

He was very well-loved by his peers in his own field as well as students. He had an insurmountable five-star rating on ratemyprofessor.com. Palazzo also earned a five-star peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell, who provides background information on lawyers and law firms.

Professor Howard Davis, one of Palazzo’s colleagues from Moorpark College, offered his condolences recalling him as a great professor and lawman.

“Professor Palazzo was a very popular instructor and well-loved by his students,” Davis said. “He was known as an excellent instructor with a tremendous sense of humor in the classroom and for being very fair.”

Palazzo reached a lot of students during his time at Moorpark College. Music student Carter Kanes, 21, was a former student of his.

“I always looked forward to going to his class,” Kanes said. “He brought real-life situations to the classroom and made learning the material enjoyable.”

President of Moorpark College, Luis Sanchez, is one of many affected by the loss of Palazzo.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Robert Palazzo,” Sanchez said. “[He was] a dedicated member of our Business faculty for many years.”

Palazzo, aside from law, was also an accomplished historian, having published seven books on the history of the American West. He frequently appeared on the History Channel as a documentary commentator, according to his brother Don. In addition, he also was a very talented cellist.

Even though Palazzo left Moorpark College so suddenly, the campus could never forget the impact he had on his students and associates. His torch will be carried on through the impressions he left behind.

Student Voice, Moorpark College, February 23, 2019