November 10, 1941 – February 8, 2026
In Loving Memory: Robert Hale Prather II
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, improving 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, significantly reducing 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
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).
Hale lives on in the hearts of his dear friends and family. Rest in peace.
Other Memories
Hale and Nancy were priors of the Manchester NH house when we had all the regional houses. We had such fun helping them find a new place to start the house one day after they first arrived from California. The contrast was amazing!
~~ Clare Whitney