1925 – 2014

FARMINGTON — Robert “Bob” B. Stevens Sr., 88, of Farmington, passed peacefully at Franklin Memorial Hospital on Friday, March 21.

Bob was the middle child of Harold F. and Dorothy M. Stevens, born on Aug. 7, 1925, in Farmington. He was a 1943 graduate of Farmington High School. He was a World War II veteran. Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 where he served until 1946. Upon returning home to Farmington and completing his military service, he was employed at Central Maine Consolidated Power. In the fall of 1948, he enrolled in Farmington State Teachers College and on Oct. 16 of that same year he married Jeanette Thompson in West Farmington. Together they attended college in Farmington for two years before transferring to Boston University where he graduated in 1951. Following his graduation, Jan and Bob made their home in Bridgton, where he taught at Bridgton High School for six years; while there he coached almost every sport prior to returning to Farmington to teach at Farmington High School in 1957. He taught and coached in Farmington until his retirement from Mt. Blue High School in 1988. He was the school’s first athletic director and served in that capacity from 1968-1982. Following his retirement from teaching he worked for 10 years on the security staff of Franklin Memorial Hospital and later as a hospital volunteer.

In the late 1970s, Bob and Jan built the home of their dreams in Temple on Day Mountain where they resided until returning to Farmington in 2007. While in Temple, Bob served several years as a selectman for the Town of Temple.

Throughout his life he had a passion for sports, especially basketball. He was a member of the 1941 Farmington High School State Championship Team and while at Farmington State Teachers College he was a member of the 1948 championship team. Bob was the first president of the Maine Secondary School Principal’s Athletic Directors (MPA).

He was a member of the Roderick Crosby Legion Post No. 28 in Farmington for 46 years. During that time he served as the post commander in 1974, the only commander of that post whose father, Harold, had served as a previous commander in 1937. He served as chaplin for the post for 25 years.

He was an avid fly fisherman in his younger years and loved being outdoors especially in the woods of Temple. Bob was a proud member of the West Farmington Fireman’s Association.

Bob leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Jan; his six children, Carole Anne Whipp of Wilmington, N.C., Brenda Stevens and her husband, Dallas Landry, of New Portland, Katie Hallman and her husband, Bob, of West Farmington, Robert Stevens Jr. and his wife, Cindy, of Farmington, Lisa Judkins and her husband, Peter, of Farmington, and David Stevens and his wife, Dorinda, of Temple. There are 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

The family wished to give a special thanks to the wonderful staff at Franklin Memorial Hospital and Beacon Hospice for all their care and support.