Robert E. Badham, former representative, dies at 76

Longtime Balboa Island resident was an assemblyman, 1963-77, and then congressman, 1977-89.Former Congressman and state Assemblyman Robert E. Badham died Friday at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian after suffering a heart attack. He was 76.

The longtime Balboa Island resident served as a California assemblyman from 1963 to 1977 and then as congressman from 1977 to 1989. Badham was also a member of the civil service board -- his term was set to expire in 2006.

Although he was seen by the public as a fiscal conservative, he was also well-known for being environmentally conscious and wrote many bills to defend and protecting natural resources and marine life.

One piece of Badham legislature focused on protecting Southern California tide pools. For his 70th birthday, his daughter Phyllis Alzamora arranged to have a section of the beach at Little Corona named after him -- the Robert E. Badham State Marine Park.

“He was the one who had established legislation to protect those tide pools,” Alzamora said. “It’s another way for people to know how much he cared about Southern California.”

Former state Assemblyman Gil Ferguson said Badham was loyal to his community.

“He was a very nice man -- I think that’s one way of describing him because he was very friendly, very outgoing, never seemed to be angry or bitter about politics, which often occurs,” Ferguson said. “He was what we call in politics a happy warrior -- he took his job seriously, but he didn’t take being a congressman as being the most important thing in the whole world or think of himself as a big shot.”

His wife of almost 35 years, Anne Badham, said he was a caring husband and loving father to all five of their children.

Alzamora was 10 years old when her mother married Robert Badham. As is typical with blended families, she did not immediately accept him as her father and had difficulty adjusting.

When Robert Badham decided to run for congress, Alzamora was 15. She was disappointed with his decision, she said, because she did not want to graduate from high school in Washington, D.C., but rather stay right here in Newport Beach, where she grew up and where all her friends lived.

Her father told her he would make a deal with her -- if she could figure out how to graduate from high school by age 16 and get accepted into college, she could stay.

“From that moment forward, he and I had a great relationship,” Alzamora said. “It showed that he had confidence in me and a great amount of trust. Showing that confidence in me set a great course for my life.”

Alzamora followed in her father’s footsteps, studying political science and government relations.

“I think we had a real deep admiration for each other,” Alzamora said, adding that although they did not always see eye to eye politically, they respected each other’s opinions.

When she ran for a California State Assembly seat in 1990, Robert Badham said of his daughter: “She’s my daughter, not my protege.” Alzamora said that was indicative of his sense of humor.

“With each one of the children, he always had a way of making us laugh and getting into our heads,” said his son Bill Badham, remembering one time when he was growing up. His father attached a for-sale sign to him and pretended he was going to sell his son to the highest bidder.

“Bob was a man of good character,” former Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg said. “One of the reasons I liked him so much is he was never afraid to speak his mind.”

After retiring from politics, Robert Badham wanted to take part in city government. Newport Beach City Councilman Tod Ridgeway interviewed him for a spot on the city’s civil service board.

Bromberg was part of the committee that appointed Robert Badham to the civil service board in June 2002. He was also a neighbor on Balboa Island.

“He was always a gentleman and always appropriately dressed,” Ridgeway said, adding that a coat and tie was standard apparel for Robert Badham.

“He’ll be sorrowfully missed by both the city and the community,” Bromberg said. “He was held in very high regard by people who knew him in the community.”

Robert Badham loved water and boating. He also enjoyed planes, and while he was in congress, he served on the House Armed Services Committee.

He was also a music fan. He played the tuba and the trumpet and performed with the local band called Wamie’s Band. Beethoven was his favorite composer and Robert Badham instilled an appreciation for classical music into all of his children at a very early age, Bill Badham said.

“He used to make birthday cards for all of us on his computer,” Alzamora said, adding that he gave her hers when they ate lunch together on Thursday. “I saved it to open on my birthday, which is Monday....He was telling me how he enjoyed finding the right message for me.”

Bill Badham said his father lived in Newport Beach most of his life.

“He always loved this community and its people,” Bill Badham said. “He just loved Newport Beach.”

Robert Badham is survived by his wife, Anne; daughters Phyllis, Sharron Badham and Jennifer Stewart; sons Bill and Robert E. Badham Jr.; and 11 grandchildren.

Services are planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Corona del Mar. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hoag Hospital in Robert E. Badham’s name.

-- Alicia Robinson

contributed to this report

.20051023iosa2wkn(LA)Robert Badham, left, in 1985, hoists the marlin he and friend Carl Kymla boated. Badham was a champion of marine resources protection. 20051023iosa3ekn(LA)Badham often flew aboard combat aircraft as a House Armed Services Committee member. 20051023iosa46kn(LA)Robert Badham and his wife Anne prepare food together in their kitchen. The former representative was also an avid cook, and the couple often entertained in their home to raise money for charities.