GARDINER – Robert T. Caspole, 84, of Gardiner, passed away gently at home on Feb. 14, 2021 after a short battle with cancer. Born April 11, 1937 in Everett, Mass., he was the son of Theodore and Doris (Wellington) Caspole.

He graduated from Everett High School in 1955, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, completing basic training at Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva, N.Y., before spending stints in Alabama (Maxwell), Illinois (Scott) and Japan as a radio technician from 1955-59.

In 1966, he moved to Maine to marry his wife of 55 years, Claudia (Schacht) Caspole.

Robert worked at Bath Iron Works before taking a position in 1973 with Maine Civil Defense (later Maine Civil Emergency Preparedness and MEMA). He worked as a radio technician before moving into planning and training, where he conducted classes for first responders around the state on radiological safety, and planning related to the Maine Yankee nuclear power plant before retiring in 1994.

An avid woodworker, he designed and largely built the family home by hand in 1977-78. He completed numerous woodworking projects, gifting signs, jewelry boxes, cutting boards and furniture to family and friends. In later years, he produced wooden butterfly brooch pins, which he would give to particularly helpful clerks or waitresses in his and Claudia’s travels.

During a long retirement, Robert enjoyed working outdoors around the old farm, and fishing and kayaking on Pleasant Pond. He and Claudia enjoyed day trips to the coast, and frequent lunches at Hi Hat, the Railway Café, Moody’s and Sarah’s, and boating on the Kennebec with brother-in-law Bill Schacht and niece Roseanne Schacht, and hosting the family Christmas Day party for some 30-odd years. Robert and Claudia took several vacation trips to the Grand Canyon, and family vacations with the boys to Florida.

Robert was predeceased by his parents, and sister Beverly, of Reading, Mass. and Stuart, Fla.

Robert is survived by his wife Claudia; sons Eric of Bedford, Mass. and David of Westfield, Mass.; and several nieces, a nephew and their families.

At Robert’s request, there will be no visiting hours or services.

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website: http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com