David Henry Roberts

David Henry Roberts died April 4. He was 77.

Roberts was born on Jan. 1, 1946, in South San Francisco, California to parents Benjamin Max Roberts and Eva Daisy Roberts. His family moved to Tracy, California where he attended Tracy High School. He later began his 40-year career as a senior engineering technologist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Roberts was the lead mechanical technologist on the design, construction and operation of “Beamlet”, the demonstration prototype of one of the National Ignition Facilities (NIF) 192 beamlines. He also worked on the development of the optical switch, development and fielding of cryogenic targets, and the growth of meter-sized crystals used by NIF.  

Roberts met his wife Candyce at a Hungry Hunter in Pleasanton, California and they were married on June 10, 1978. Over the next 44 years they had the most splendid times together.

Roberts survived by his wife Candyce (McCarney) Roberts, nieces and many loving cousins in the Rosaia family. He was preceded in death by his father Benjamin Max Roberts, mother Eva Daisy (Rosaia) Roberts, brother William (Bill) Roberts.

A celebration of life will be held at Kottinger Park in Pleasanton on June 10, at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions in his name may be given to Christian Encounter Ranch in Grass Valley or Next Step Pregnancy Center in Livermore.