Robert K. Downs

PITTSFIELD – Robert K. Downs, 72, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 5, 2023, in Portland.

Bob was born on Dec. 3, 1950, in Boston, Mass., the son of the late Herbert and Ada (Bachofsky) Downs. He grew up in Boston’s West End and attended Brighton High School where he excelled in science and sports. He went on to Northeastern University earning a bachelor’s degree in science and was a graduate of their PA program in 1977. He later attended Boston University earning a Master of Science Degree in Public Health.

While attending Boston University he met and married his soul mate Cindy. Together they raised a wonderful family and shared a life filled with adventure, travel, and most of all love. Many memories were made skiing at their beloved Sugarloaf Mountain, hiking the New Hampshire White Mountains, Florida beaches, and numerous trips to National Parks of the West.

Bob began his career at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, Mass.) in the Emergency Department. After several years he made the decision to try the rural life and moved to Maine. At Sebasticook Valley Hospital, as a PA in the Emergency Room, he helped consolidate and implement expanded ambulance and emergency services. He always wanted to help others and support them in times of need. He later worked for Mid-Maine Medical Center in Waterville where he served as Vice President of Behavioral and Rehabilitation services for 10 years.

In the second half of his career Bob moved to the network provider side of the insurance industry where he worked with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care as Director of Operations, and finally Aetna as Senior Network Manager for Northern New England before he retired in 2017.

Bob was a warm, humble, and caring man. He had a lively sense of humor and an ever-positive outlook. He was a great storyteller and cared deeply for others. His greatest joy in life was becoming a father. He loved his two sons dearly and focused his best efforts in supporting them and helping them grow. He enjoyed sports, chemistry, and studying anything to do with financial analysis. He was also a terrific cook. During high school he participated in football, basketball, and baseball; ultimately receiving the David C. Freedman Student Athlete Award. As an adult he loved tennis, basketball, racquetball, hiking and skiing. In his later years he gained a fondness for pickleball. He was an avid fan of all Boston’s sports teams and often made his way to Celtics games at the Boston Garden.

Bob wanted to support the community where he lived and was committed to service. He served on the Pittsfield Town council for six years and as mayor for four. He also served on the SAD #53 Board of Directors and was Board Chair for 13 years. In 2002 Bob received the Pittsfield Community Citizenship Award for dedicated service to the Community.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia of Pittsfield; two sons, Alexander of Pittsfield and Prague, and Jonathan of Westbrook; siblings Ann Downs-Kleindorfer of Boston, Mass., Janice Galka of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Arthur Downs of Oakland, Calif.; mother-in-law, Virginia Haynes of Winn; sister-in-law, Ginger Maxwell and husband Kevin, sister-in-law, Barbara French and husband Malcolm, brother-in-law, Jay Haynes and wife Annette; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

He was predeceased by his parents; sisters Carol and Elaine, and a brother-in-law, Larry Galka.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 19 at the Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, 191 Hartland Ave., Pittsfield. A graveside service will be held in the summer at the Potter Brook Cemetery, 924 Winn Rd., Winn, Maine.

To leave a message of kindness or to share a memory, please visit http://www.shoreynichols.com.

Care has been provided by Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Pittsfield.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his memory to the

Pittsfield Public Library,

110 Library St.,

Pittsfield, ME 04967 or

Sebasticook Valley Hospital,

447 N Main St.,

Pittsfield, ME 04967