Robert M. Smith
1926 – 2009

TURNER – Robert M. Smith, 83, of Lower Street, Turner, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7, following several years of failing health.

He was born in Akron, Pa., on Sept. 16, 1926, the son of Warren V. and Mabel M. Smith. Immediately following graduation from high school, Bob joined the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS Henrico from 1944 to 1946, receiving three ribbons and the Victory Medal. Following the war, he returned to Lancaster, Pa., and attended Franklin and Marshall College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1951. He also took numerous advanced courses in personnel and management at Penn State University.

Bob married Jean Van Buskirk of Lancaster, Pa., on Sept. 5, 1947. During their 53 year marriage they established homes in San Diego, Calif., Connecticut and Hingham, Mass., before moving to West Bath in 1976. They resided there for 25 years, until her passing on Jan. 24, 2001.

He married his second wife, BettyAnn Hamlin of Turner, in July of 2002 and moved to Turner in May 2004.

His over 35 years in the fields of human resources, industrial and labor relations began when he joined the New Holland Machine Company in 1951 as personnel administrator. From 1954 to 1958 he served as a labor relations representative for the Vertol Aircraft Company. He then became the vice president and director of Barnes Chase Advertising Company in New York. Prior to moving to Maine, he held management positions in the industrial and labor relations fields at the General Dynamics corporate office, and several of its divisions, over a 15 year period. These offices included locations in New York City, San Diego and Boston.

Bob then came work for Maine’s then largest private employer, Bath Iron Works Corporation, as director of industrial relations in 1976. He then served as vice president of human resources and community relations during one of the busiest periods in the shipyard’s 101 year history. He retired from BIW in November of 1985.

He was elected a corporator of Mid Coast Health Services in January 1988 and continued to serve until his death. He was elected as treasurer of Bath Memorial Hospital in January of 1990, to the board of directors of Mid Coast Hospital in January 1991, to the board of directors of Mid Coast Health Services in January 1992, and as treasurer of Mid Coast Health Services and Mid Coast Hospital in 1992 through 2003. He also served on numerous Mid Coast Health Services and Mid Coast Hospital committees. Bob also continued to serve as honorary trustee of Mid Coast Hospital until the time of his death.

Bob was active in numerous professional organizations; including the Personnel Management Association, National Management Association, Franklin and Marshall Alumni Association, Phi Kappa Tau Board of Governors, the Western College Placement Association and the International Association of Personnel Administrators. While living in Hingham, Mass., he served as a director of the Massachusetts Safety Council and on the advisory committee for the Positive Program in Boston. He was a member of the Bath Rotary Club and the Southern Maine Personnel Executives Council.

He was appointed a member of the State Compensation Commission from August 1983 through July 1985 and served on the Bath United Way board of directors, and the boards of the Maine Maritime Museum and the Salvation Army. He was a life-time member of the Navy League of the United States since 1985. A former vice president of the Bath Area Chamber of Commerce, he received the Annual Presidents Award in January 1982. He was also member of the Grace Episcopal Church of Bath and a 30-year member of the Kora Shrine Temple.

A voracious reader, his other personal interests included travel, fishing, hunting, skiing, boating, golf, wood working and painting.

He is survived by his second wife, BettyAnn Hamlin-Smith; his sister, Helen Rohrer and her husband, Bill, of Akron, Pa.; his son, Scott Smith of Phippsburg; daughter, Suzanne Enemark of Bath; granddaughters, Michelle Enemark of New York City, Erin and April Enemark of Bath, and Jocelynn Smith of Boston; great-granddaughter, Delaney Farnham of Bath; and numerous nieces and cousins.