"Design by Raiter": Bob in his studio

I remember Bob more as a designer than a chef. He was constantly drawing, creating, and tossing around ideas ... I have no doubt that he later transferred that same talent to his cooking!

A few short years

I knew Bob for only a few years, mostly from 1979 to 1989, but we packed a lot of living into that time. We met at N.C. State University when he was on the last leg of his Masters degree in Design, and I was on the last leg of dropping out of college.

He was one of my few close friends during that time, although he probably didn't know it. We would hang out in his studio at the School of Design, partying and shooting the breeze until all hours of the night. Bob used to have a phrase, "Faster than you!", which was a friendly challenge to see who could live & play faster & harder; with Bob it was always more more more.

He had an exuberance for life, a rapier wit, and an unexpected take on almost everything. Bob was meticulous in his design and artwork and would slave for hours over what seemed to be the most unimportant detail. For Bob, though, it was a way of living: doing it right.

He also had a philosophy of being "on purpose"; that is, a way of living that was mindful and for the common good. Perhaps he didn't always follow that philosophy, but he gave it a good shot, and better than most.

Bob was very intense, and scared the bejesus out of me from time to time, with his rants and diatribes on the Truth According to Bob! But he always had my back, and despite our differences, down deep I know he cared a lot about everyone in his life, me included.

There are few people which whom I shared the sense of humor that Bob possessed; it ran the gamut from clever to outrageous, and I'll never forget his maniacal laugh -- when something amused him he had this crazy cackle that I loved to hear.

At the risk of getting sentimental, I'll end this now. I regret never having the chance to say good-bye to Bob, and for now, I hope that this web page will suffice. -- Malcolm Riviera

In memory of Bob Raiter. Born May 8, 1955. Left this mortal coil on August 2, 2007

Friday, October 5, 2007

Bob in his studio

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"Design by Raiter"

A few short years

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