Husband, father, grandfather, longtime Cal Poly Pomona professor

Robert Arthur Quaney, beloved husband of Susan J. Quaney and father of Thomas Quaney and Amanda Quaney Jones, died February 1 after a prolonged struggle with various health issues. He was 93.

“Despite Robert’s health challenges, he rarely complained, showed courage and an unwavering strength and kindness right up until the end, a true reflection of his character,” his family shared.
Robert was born on July 3, 1928 in Arkansas City, Kansas, and spent most of his growing years in and around Chanute, Kansas. During his senior year of high school, his family moved to Inglewood, California. He graduated from Inglewood High School in 1946.

While a student at Inglewood, he heard about the G.I. college program and joined the U.S. Navy right after high school. He served as a navy officer and aviator in Korea, and was awarded the Air Medal and Korean War Medal.

While stationed on North Island, Coronado, he met his future wife, Susan Joy, who lived in Coronado with her parents. They were married in 1952.

After his navy service he used the G.I. Bill to earn his bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering at Stanford University, and later his master’s.

Over the next number of years, the couple had two children and moved to Claremont. He took a job as a professor of industrial engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, where he remained until his 1987 retirement.

In 1987 the Quaneys moved to Carlsbad, California, where he remained until his February 1 death.

In addition to his wife of nearly 70 years, Susan, he is survived by his son, Thomas Quaney of Colton, California; daughter and son-in-law, Amanda Quaney Jones and Darcy Jones of Cardiff, California; and grandchildren, Matthew Hollis Langer, of Cardiff, and Melissa Suzanne Langer, of Leucadia, California.

There are no plans for a public memorial service at this time.