In Loving Memory: Robert Hale Prather II
November 10, 1941 – February 8, 2026

Robert Hale Prather II, 84, passed away peacefully at home in Richmond, California, on
February 8, 2026. Hale was a man defined by his passion for social justice, the natural
world, and his deep appreciation for the quiet, ordinary moments of human life. He truly
found wonder in the everyday.

Early Life and Education
Born in Madera, California, Hale was the son of Robert Hale Prather, a descendant of
an Anderson Valley pioneer family, and Barbara Prather (née Smith). Barbara was born
in India, where her family’s service as Presbyterian missionaries established a
five-generation connection to the Indian subcontinent—a legacy Hale deeply valued
throughout his life.

Hale’s commitment to community and leadership began early. He became an Eagle
Scout at the age of 17, a milestone that reflected his lifelong dedication to service. He
graduated in the Class of 1959 from Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo,
where he served as Student Body President and ran hurdles for the track team. He also
spent a formative summer as an AFS exchange student in France – a subject he would
frequently reference in conversation throughout his life.

In the fall of 1959, Hale attended Deep Springs College, where all students receive full
scholarships. He spent three years in the program, was Student Body President and
balanced rigorous academic studies with cattle ranch work in a community dedicated to
the service of humanity. He transferred to UC Berkeley in 1962, graduating with a
degree in Anthropology.

Music played a large role in his life, from his Aunt Ernestine playing piano at family
gatherings, to his father as part of a barbershop quartet. He continued the tradition and
joined the Men’s Glee Club at UC Berkeley and participated in joint concerts with the
Women’s Treble Clef where he met his future wife Nancy Horikoshi.

They married in 1963 at Stewart Chapel within the San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Hale later earned a Master’s of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley
and was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church.

A Career of Global and Local Service
Following graduation, Hale and Nancy joined the Ecumenical Institute (aka Institute of
Cultural Affairs), a non-profit focused on church renewal and community development.
Their work began at the Westside of Chicago’s “Fifth City” neighborhood, to
Manchester, New Hampshire, and eventually to the Human Development Project of
Barrio Sudtonggan in the Visayan region of the Philippines.

During their five years in Sudtonggan, Hale served as Director, working to improve
community income, schooling, and health services. By expanding and developing local
industries—including buri furniture making, abaca crafts, and limestone cutting—he
helped revitalize the local economy. A community preschool was launched and a health
clinic that significantly reduced infant mortality and disease, was established.

Upon returning to California, the family settled in Marin City. Hale transitioned to a
career with the Social Security Administration, where he served with dedication until his
retirement in 2006.

A Legacy of Connection
Hale had a rare gift for connecting with others. Whether on family fishing trips, crabbing
under the Golden Gate, hiking Mt. Tamalpais, or flying kites with his sons, he would
inevitably “chat up” the people he met. While these pauses were often to the initial
chagrin of his young sons, they invariably led to pleasant conversations and unexpected
insights. In every neighborhood he lived in, Hale was the person everyone knew and
greeted by name.

In his later years, Hale became an avid bird watcher and photographer. He volunteered
for many years at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary, interpreting the
ecology of the bay for countless children.

Family and Services
Hale is survived by his wife, Nancy Minako Prather; his sons, David (&Cristina) of
Berkeley and Thomas (&Abigail) of Richmond; his grandchildren, Truls, Alexandra, and
Andrea; and his sisters, Nancy Johnson (&Samuel) and Margaret Krauss (&Kit).
Memorial Service: Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 1:00 PM Westminster Presbyterian
Church 240 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920. A reception will follow immediately
at the church.

Family Burial Service: Monday, March 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM Sunset View Cemetery
Association 101 Colusa Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Food Bank, the ACLU or Kaiser Hospice of Oakland.

Hale lives on in the hearts of his dear friends and family. Rest in peace.

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