Name Palomar Baseball Field in Bob Vetter’s honor
Donation protected
Our amazing and loving father, Bob Vetter, suddenly left this world on January 22, 2022. He was only 71. He is survived by his beautiful wife Sarah, daughter Emily, and son Robby. It’s been an extremely difficult time for our family to lose someone too soon and so suddenly. It's not only an enormous loss for our family, but the entire San Diego & baseball community is also losing someone who has made profound impacts on so many. Dad’s legacy deserves to be honored, especially by Palomar College, where he was loyal for over 30 years. At Palomar, he helped bring so much value, tradition, and pride to the program. He helped shape the Palomar Baseball program into a winning tradition, but most importantly, he helped better the lives of countless players, coaches, and staff. We are asking you to help us donate in efforts to name the Palomar Baseball field in his honor, so that Bob Vetter’s legacy may live on for generations to come.
A little bit about our amazing Dad…
Bob Vetter began his journey at Palomar College as an assistant coach in 1981, and the following year he was named head coach, which started a new era of Palomar Baseball. He taught health, kinesiology, and physical education, and later became Department Chair of the Health and Kinesiology department.
For the next 24 years as head coach at Palomar, Vetter led the Comets to gain statewide and national respect as one of the nation’s top community college programs. He tirelessly recruited, built relationships, and preached his philosophy with local high school coaches and players. Bob’s philosophy wasn’t only teaching his players the fundamentals of the game and learning how to win, but more importantly, helping them succeed in life. Vetter led Palomar to win conference titles in 1988, 1989, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2005. In a four-year stretch from 1998-2001 the Comets were 127-39, with four straight 30-win seasons. He compiled a 542-393 record overall at Palomar, winning 7 conference coach of the year awards, 8 conference championships, 14 regional playoff appearances, 8 super-regional playoff appearances, and leading his team to a runner up finish at the California Community College Baseball World Series in 2005. He was inducted into the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007, an honor well deserved. Palomar team accomplishments were numerous because of Coach Vetter. However, it was never about winning for Bob. He was most passionate about helping college kids develop life skills, achieve their dreams, and prepare them for adult life.
Bob would eat, sleep and breathe coaching and baseball – but there was nothing he loved more than being a father. He adored watching his kids grow up, play sports, graduate from college, and grow into their adult years. He was a die-hard OU Sooners fan, enjoyed playing golf, and cooking. He loved to grill on his hasty bake, a wedding gift from his father. But more than anything, he loved being there for Emily, Robby, and Sarah. Family always came first – he would drop anything for them, at any time.
After retiring from coaching, Bob continued at Palomar as Department Chair of Health and Kinesiology. He was also the driving force behind the development of the new Palomar baseball field. Bob spent many years sketching plans and advocating for the new stadium at Palomar. After years of tireless efforts and negotiations, Vetter's ideas finally came to life when the new stadium opened in 2015, where he threw out the first pitch. He then soon returned as an assistant coach for Palomar in 2016, which continued through his final days. There have been countless efforts with Palomar College administration since the new stadium opened to have it named in Coach Vetter's honor, to no avail. Bob Vetter not only poured over 30 impactful years into Palomar College, but he also helped bring their new baseball facility to life. Naming the Palomar Baseball field in Bob Vetter's honor is the right thing to do.
We as a family are trying our best to keep Dad’s legacy remembered for generations to come. Unfortunately, field naming rights aren’t cheap - even for someone who has given everything to Palomar College over the years. Therefore, we can use all of the support possible from the community. All donations will be gathered & sent to Palomar College Baseball program to not only aid in the field naming rights effort, but also to help support the program continue their winning traditions. Thank you all very much in advance for your generous support – big or small – we greatly appreciate it and we love you all.
Love,
The Vetter Family
Co-organizers (2)
Robert Vetter
Organizer
Seattle, WA
Emily Vetter
Co-organizer