“Uncle Bob” Santos, a longtime Seattle activist who advocated for civil rights and preservation of the Chinatown/International District, passed away on August 27. Dubbed the unofficial Mayor of the Chinatown/International District, Uncle Bob was the executive director of the International District Improvement Association (Inter*Im) from 1972-1989 and regional director of the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development from 1994-2001.
Uncle Bob leaves behind a vast legacy of activism and leadership that has influenced and inspired many generations. Read and watch an oral history told by Uncle Bob here, courtesy of the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project. The Seattle Times reports on his passing here.
RIP Uncle Bob!