Wednesday, November 13, 2019
I remember Uncle Bob as compassionate, adventurous, avid outdoorsman, a good family man, and had a good sense of humor. Uncle Bob was one of the founders and Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 1361 sponsored by the Tipperary Hill American Legion. Many years of good clean fun, learning life skills and beginning the journey from boyhood to manhood. I remember Uncle Bob teaching us to hunt. It was not uncommon to follow him around the woods and he would say “let’s sit on this log and take a break”, then he would reach under the log where he had a bottle of water hidden, take a drink and store it back under the log. I remember him being a guide at a Caribou camp above the arctic circle. He had some great stories from those days. I remember I stayed with Uncle Bob, Aunt Peggy, Mike, Rick and Sandy while my brother was in the hospital, I remember him with tears in his eyes as he told me about my brother’s surgery. I remember after Aunt Peggy’s passing he attended a pig roast in Maine with me. In route we stopped in Portland for lunch. We parked at the waterfront area and he said let’s just sit in the car and watch where the older people go. He identified a restaurant that way and it was fantastic. In there he ordered oysters on the half shell, shamed me into eating one. I then ordered my own half dozen. Now, I frequently order oysters and think of Uncle Bob each time. I remember my first two years of college, I lived at camp all alone, it was desolate, no running water all winter, frigid temps frequently had frost on the walls not just the windows. Uncle Bob called me frequently to check on me. One frigid evening he called and asked if I saw the Kiki birds yet. I said what? He repeated and added, this time of year they line up on the shoreline and say Kiki Kiki Christ it’s cold out here!
I will always fondly remember my Uncle Bob.
Jim Castle
3180 Bellevue Avenue