Robert “Bob” S. Reed

VASSALBORO – Robert “Bob” S. Reed, 61, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 26, 2024, at MaineGeneral Comfort Care at Glenridge in Augusta with his loving family by his side.

He was born in Waterville on Feb. 27, 1963, the son of the late Alva and Shirley (Fletcher) Reed of North Anson. He grew up in North Anson and graduated from Carrabec High School in 1981. He then obtained his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology in May 1986 at the University of Maine, Orono. He was inducted into the Phi Kappy Phi Engineering Society.

Bob met his wife, Jessica, while she was a senior in high school, and he was a junior in college in Maine. They dated for five years while both finishing degrees at different colleges, including Bob graduating and traveling to Texas for a Texas Instruments (TI) training program for 18 months, and then he accepted a position in Waltham, Mass. with TI as a Distribution Channel Sales Manager for six years. He then worked for Genesis Associates, as a Distribution Channel Manager, Sales Engineer for almost 13 years in Burlington, Mass. before returning to Maine in June of 2007. Once in Maine he became a Project Manager/Developer with Paine Properties, and then held the position of General Manager at NETCo Inc., and finished his working career as a General Manager at Thayer Corporation, He then focused his attention even more on battling his cancer and fighting as hard as possible every day.

On Oct. 7, 1989, Bob married Jessica (Paine), and they lived briefly in Burlington and Framingham Mass. before moving to Westford for almost eight years, then Hampstead, NH for almost 10 years, and returned to Maine to settle in Vassalboro in 2007.

Bob was a devoted family man and loyal friend who would lend a hand to anyone in need without hesitation. He was also “Mr. Hobby,” who enjoyed learning magic tricks and performing magic shows for neighborhood birthday parties, collecting stamps, working on model trains, and teaching himself how to whittle wood. Bob loved Scouting and devoted over 20 years volunteering as a Cubmaster in Hampstead, and then as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster in Vassalboro Troop 410. His two sons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and he assisted 14 other young men in Troop 410 to Eagle rank as well. Bob also had a passion for music and the outdoors. Enjoying and playing music on his guitars was a big part of his life. He was an avid hiker, snowboarder, and loved being outdoors as much as possible – especially on Embden Lake.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Alva and Shirley Reed, Aunt Essie Ferguson, and cousin Bill Ferguson. He is survived by his loving wife, Jessica and their four children, Becca, Josh, Seth, and Paige; brother David Reed, brother-in-law Mark Paine, sister-in-law Wendy Paine; nephew, Conner Paine, niece Courtney Paine, and Laurie Ferguson, wife of cousin Bill Ferguson. We have lost an incredible husband, father, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend. He will be missed every day.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m. at the Winthrop YMCA Camp of Maine, located at 305 Winthrop Center Road, Winthrop, Maine. Bob would not want ties or formal black attire, but bright colored casual clothes, especially a Hawaiian shirt if you have one.

Arrangements are in the care of Veilleux, Redington and Lawry Brothers Funeral Home 8 Elm St, Waterville, where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at https://www.vrlfuneralhome.com/.

Those who wish may make a memorial contribution in Bob’s memory to the MaineGeneral Comfort Care Unit at Glenridge may do so online at https://give.mainegeneral.org/comfort, or by mail payable to MaineGeneral Health, Comfort Care at Glenridge, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903 – marked as a “Tribute Gift for Bob Reed” or by phone at 207-626-1809.

We have also set up a Bob Reed Memorial Campership for Vassalboro Troop 410 for Scouts that would like to attend Scout Camp in the summer but need financial assistance to do so.

Donations can be sent to Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Polley, 19 Szady Drive, Vassalboro, ME 04989.