AUGUSTA – Robert S. “Bob” Bond of Granite Hill Estates, Hallowell, Maine, passed away on the morning of August 28, 2021 in Augusta. He lived a long life of almost 96 years and will be missed by family and friends.

Bob was born on Oct. 12,1925 in Cambridge, Mass. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1943 following high school and was trained as a signalman and navigator serving in the Pacific during WWII.

Since his early high school years, Bob knew he wanted to pursue a career in forestry. Following a year of post high school grad studies at Cushing Academy, he received his bachelor’s degree in forestry from University of Massachusetts, a master’s degree in forest management from Yale University, and a doctorate in forest economics from the College of Forestry at Syracuse University. His career included two summers on a US Forest Service lookout in Montana, working for a private lumber company in Arkansas, spending two years as a forester with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Resources, serving for 21 years on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Forestry department, and serving for 10 years as director of the School of Forest Resources at Pennsylvania State University. Bob was extremely dedicated to the forests of our country and had an exemplary academic career. He was a leader in his field with research, writing articles, and involvement in a number of forestry related organizations and committees. In recognition of his contribution to forestry he was elected a Fellow to the Society of American Foresters. Bob co-owned a woodlot in central Massachusetts where he managed the forest and built a family “camp” and eventually a retirement home. There are many fond family memories of times spent at camp.

Bob married Barbara Ann Simmons (deceased in 2012) in 1950. They had a long and happy marriage of 62 years. They had many friends who they kept in contact with over the years. Bob was active into his mid 80s working in the woods, and playing tennis and golf. In the years after Barbara’s death, Bob and a family friend, Sue Bourne, became companions enjoying their time together talking, watching sports and traveling.

Bob was predeceased by his mother, Mildred Sands Bond, father, Earle Sumner Bond, and brother, Charles Edward Bond who was a killed in 1952 in the Korean War. Bob is survived by his and Barbara’s two children, Judy Bond Ross (Jim Carr) and Rob Bond (Martha). Bob leaves behind five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

A family graveside service with Coast Guard honors will be held mid October at the Maine Veterans Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road, in Augusta, Maine.

A memorial contribution in Robert Bond’s name is suggested to the:

New England Forestry Foundation at

http://www.newenglandforestry.org

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