Robert "Bob" Arthur Cotes, 68, of Fisher Terrace lost his battle to cancer on November 28, 2012. He passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family.
Bob was born in Portland, ME to Priscilla and Kermit Cotes. He graduated Yarmouth High in 1962 and Maine Vocational Technical Institute in 1965. Bob served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 through 1968 and continued to serve in the Naval Reserves for the next 4 years. He graduated Tufts University in 1973. Bob met his wife Claire at a New Year's Eve party in 1973 and the two married on June 19, 1976. The couple had their first daughter, Deanna Lee in 1977 and 4 years later welcomed their second daughter Lauren Elizabeth. Bob summered in his native Maine on Little Sebago Lake, where he enjoyed hosting lobster cookouts, water skiing, and cruising around the lake in his boat. On his winter trips to Maine, Bob liked to downhill ski at Sunday River.
Bob worked his entire professional life doing what he loved: providing dry dock consulting services to shipyards. His profession allowed him to see the world; he traveled extensively and visited the Philippines, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. In his early career, Bob worked at Crandall Dry Dock Engineers, Inc., Bob started his own company in 1995, Stuyvesant Marine Services, Inc. specializing in shipyard services, while he continued to do structural engineering for Modern Continental. Bob most recently held the position of senior engineer for Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk, VA.
In his free time, Bob enjoyed "shooting the breeze" with family and friends while enjoying a Budweiser or two. He also had a passion for Hot Rods and antique car restoration. When he wasn't busy crossing things off his "To-Do" list, Bob was in his basement workshop doing various woodworking projects. Those who knew Bob best will remember his sarcastic sense of humor, his endearing stubborn streak, and the smile in his bright eyes.
Bob is predeceased by his parents, Priscilla and Kermit Cotes. Bob is survived by his wife Claire, his daughter Deanna Homoliski and husband Geoff of Holden, MA, and his daughter Lauren Campbell and her husband Scott of Woburn, MA, and his grandchildren Joel and Molly Homoliski. He is survived by his sister Cheryl Welch of Gray, ME and many loving nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held at the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant Street, Woburn, MA on Saturday, December 8 from 2 - 5pm. A funeral service will follow at 5pm. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be private. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.