Robert W. Cole: key obituary facts
Is Robert W. Cole dead? Yes. Robert W. Cole died on July 11, 2026, at age 95.
Cause of death: Robert W. Cole's cause of death was reported as Stroke.
What was Robert W. Cole known for?
He was an American conductor, complications from a stroke.
More about Robert W. Cole
Born: 1 January 1931.
Gender: male.
Occupation: conductor.
Robert W.
Cole, the American conductor, impresario and arts administrator who led Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, died on July 11, 2026, of complications from a stroke. Born Robert Walton Cole on March 15, 1931, he was raised in San Jose, California, and began violin lessons at age 6 after inheriting a small instrument from his father.
Cole later studied at San Jose State University and the University of Texas at El Paso, and during the Korean War he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he played in the Air Force Band. He became director of Cal Performances in 1986 and retired in 2009 after helping turn it from a regional presenting program into a major presenting, producing and commissioning organization.