Remembering Bob Gore

Inventor, Leader and Philanthropist

Bob Gore, whose scientific discoveries spawned GORE-TEX Outerwear and paved the way for advancements in industries as varied as performance fabrics, medical devices, space exploration and filtration, assumed the chairman emeritus role in 2018 after 57 years of service on the Gore board, 30 of those as chairman. Bob also served as president of Gore from 1976 to 2000.

Below are condolence messages and memories that were submitted after Bob's passing in September 2020.

My sincere condolences on the passing of Bob Gore. It has been many years since I was a Gore Associate; however, it seems like yesterday! Those were unforgettable days and always evoke fond memories. The many Associates who were wonderful friends, the can-do culture, the focus on getting things done, the four guiding principles, EVAs, Gore-Coms, pagers, etc. Bob was a constant presence to us in core technology - whether physically present or not. We knew that he could walk into the labs or offices anytime and challenge us on our work! The biennial global core technology meetings were occasions where Bob's incisive questions were in plain view and had to be reckoned with. I also experienced a very different Bob in a training course, or in personal conversations, where he took on the role of a supportive mentor. He was a brilliant engineer and an incisive thinker. RIP, Bob.

Vilupanur Ravi (former Gore Associate)

I wanted to drop you and the Gore family a note of condolence - all at Berghaus were sorry to hear the sad news of Bob’s passing. It reminded me of a story that Gordon Davison told me when we first met, and so we used that anecdote on our social media channels today as a tribute to Bob:

"Bob Gore, the inventor of GORE-TEX, sadly passed away last week. It's nearly 50 years since someone from Gore walked into our factory and showed us the material for the first time, but we remember it like it was yesterday. No sooner had we poured them a fresh brew than they had popped a layer of GORE-TEX Fabric on top of the cup and stared at us with a grin - not typical behaviour for a first meeting, but then pioneers don’t really do typical. In that instant, we saw the steam rising up through the fabric and we realised it was both breathable and waterproof... just what we'd been looking for. It changed everything. Bob changed everything. Since that day we've been working in close partnership with Bob and his team. That work will go on, in his honour.
Thanks Bob."

His family are in our thoughts, and we hope all at Gore are safe & well in these trying times.

Kev & Team (Berghaus)

After 25 years at Gore, always involved in product, I can honestly say that the most impactful and view-shifting engagements I had were the ones I have with Bob. He had an uncanny ability to quickly identify where your ideas were not yet fully developed and would constructively challenge to nudge your thinking along. Impatiently of course, always expecting more from you than you from yourself. He believed in his Associates. He believed in the power of teams aligned and committed to solving seemingly impossible tasks. He will be missed of course, and honored with each shared ‘Bob story’ told. His legacy will endure in the millions of exceptional Gore products and businesses that have both saved and changed lives.

Matt Schreiner (Associate), via LinkedIn

GORE-TEX is outdoor outerwear. The invention of GORE-TEX changed the way people understood clothing. It marks the moment when brands and consumers began to talk about technology and apparel in the same context. It’s akin to what happened in personal computing. All of a sudden, the sort of space-age technologies that you associated with NASA was available to everyone.

Gore has always been a step ahead of its competitors. For 30 years, brands and fabric mills tried to generate interest in alternatives and they’ve always failed. Gore has built an enormous reservoir of trust with outdoor consumers. That black diamond tag is a badge of quality.

Gore has always been Marmot’s closest innovation partner. What’s great about them is that they’re willing to experiment. Forty years ago, the technology was strictly for apparel. But they were willing to experiment with Marmot and we created a line of waterproof sleeping bags. People had never even imagined that was possible before.

Thank you Robert Gore.

We at Marmot extend our deepest sympathies to Robert’s Family and the greater GORE-TEX Organization.

Marmot, via Facebook