Robert Keith Temple

Robert Keith Temple, age 68, died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Having moved recently to Las Vegas, he was rushed to a hospital there suffering from pneumonia and other health complications. Bob was born in Greenwich, CT on October 4, 1956, the son of Robert W. Temple and Katrina Voorhis (Mabon). The family moved often early on, and Bob grew up in New England, Georgia and Florida where he graduated from Sanford Military Academy. He entered the US Navy and became a nuclear reactor operator aboard attack submarines in the mid-1980s. Once asked about how a man (like Bob) who stood 6’5” would deal with hatchways on board (maximum height: 6’3”), the boat’s executive officer said dryly: “He’ll hit his head once – then he’ll learn.” And he did.

Having completed his undergraduate degree while in service, Bob chose to return to civilian life after his six-year commitment, becoming a licensed reactor operator in the Chicago area with Commonwealth Edison. He proceeded to complete his JD degree at Kent School of Law, moving over to the company’s legal department to work as an attorney. His knowledge of plant operations, coupled with the legal aspects of the nuclear regulatory environment, gave Bob a valuable combination of skills and experience for his subsequent activities.

Bob had recently retired from NuScale Power, a Portland, Oregon-based company developing small modular reactors for the nuclear power industry, where he served as General Counsel and Secretary. He was instrumental in bringing the corporation public on the New York Stock Exchange and in structuring financial solutions for several rounds of capital infusion. Prior to this he had served in various roles of increasing responsibility at law firms with nuclear practices (Haynes & Boone, McGuire Woods) and then with in-house roles at power generation companies such as CPS Energy, Babcock & Wilcox and Toshiba America Energy Systems.

Bob is survived by his wife, his daughters, his mother, brothers, and sisters and by many other family and friends from across the globe. He will be missed!