Robert August

Robert “Bob” August was a lifelong learner who spent his career with the Library of Congress, first in the Asian division as a Japanologist—including a special project in the 80s “on loan” to the US Department of Education—and later in the realm of digital cataloguing. In retirement, he focused on family history research and digitizing old family movies. He and his wife Linda (née Halpern) especially enjoyed river cruises in Europe and going to the theater. Pre-retirement, they flexed their sense of adventure with trips to Australia to visit their daughters who were studying abroad. And in their much younger days (newlyweds!) spent four years living in Japan where Bob’s focus was dissertation research and international phone calls were really expensive.

Bob never met an L.L. Bean plaid flannel shirt he didn’t like. He was a lover of music—singing, occasionally playing on the guitar or piano, and most definitely whistling. Even after his 2018 FTD diagnosis, music remained an important and constant companion. The family shared a penchant for singalongs.

He had a fondness for historical family road trips which in turn became historic, reading presidential biographies, shaking his fist at the daily news, and giving his daughters financial lectures. Movie nights, British detective shows, and a good meal were some of the things he enjoyed with his family.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Bob attended Central High School (the 218), La Salle University, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He lived for 45 years in Maryland outside of Washington D.C. with Linda and their two daughters, Emily and Sarah. He was brother to Linda E. August, father-in-law to Scott and Burt, and grandfather to Richard, Beatrice, and Alexander. Donations may be made in his memory to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) or the Olney Theatre Center in Olney, Maryland.

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration

2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120

King of Prussia, PA 19406

https://www.theaftd.org/

Olney Theatre Center

2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd

Olney, MD 20832

https://www.olneytheatre.org/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hinesrinaldifuneralhome.com for the August family.