Robert Bob L. Cram

Steward of His Community

Falmouth - Robert Leighton Cram passed away August 11, 2013 in Falmouth.

Bob was born on August 21, 1912, raised in the Woodfords area of Portland and graduated from Deering High School in 1930. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1935 with a degree in Agriculture. In 1940 he received a Degree in Law from Boston University and joined his father Harry L. Cram in their law office on Exchange Street.

In 1939 Bob married Emilie Soule Chase of Cumberland Foreside where they lived together for 50 years until her death.

In 1942 Bob enlisted in the Navy as an officer and served as a guard detail moving Liberty Ships across the North Atlantic and then on PT Boats both in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific on PT 209.

After the War Robert returned to practice Law in Portland and continued to do so until his mid-80’s. A staunch Republican, Bob was the County Chairman and worked in the County Courthouse for 18 years: ten as Register of Deeds, six as a County Commissioner and two as County Attorney. He followed his father in being elected to the Maine State Senate.

In the town of Cumberland, Bob served for many years as Overseer of the Poor, Town Assessor and Selectman. He was the President of the Falmouth Foreside Fire Company for 26 years. He was a member of Woodfords Fraternity Lodge #6 IOOF for 73 years serving as Past Noble Grand and president of the Odd Fellows Hall Company of Deering. He was also a member of the Deering Lodge of the Masons, The Penobscot Grange, a member of the Foreside Community Church, and a Boy Scout Troop Leader.

Bob’s love of agriculture and gardening was large and never ending. His gardens on the Foreside and at ‘The Farm’ in Pownal were spectacular and abundant. He once had a full booth at the County Fair rivaling those of commercial growers. No visitor to the house ever escaped without bags of fresh vegetables stashed in their car. His long life proved his point: “Vegetables are good for you”!

In 1990 he married the lovely Marion Clark Lovendale of Falmouth and together they built a house on Cousins Island where they created many new gardens, flowers by Marion and vegetables by Bob. Eventually they moved to Ocean View at Falmouth – and created even more gardens.

Bob was a founder of the Society of Ballroom Dancing and loved to go dancing every Saturday night with Marion and before that with Emilie. Summer Theatre and Shakespeare at Monmouth were rarely missed.

Bob was predeceased by Emilie Cram in 1989 and their daughter Neva Cram in 2012.

He is survived by Marion Cram after 23 years of marriage. He is also survived by his son James and his wife Anne Armstrong Cram of Falmouth, their children Nathaniel and his wife Abigail Hopkins Cram of South Portland; Rachel and her husband Kyle Halliday of Danville, California; and Emilie Cram of Portland. Neva’s husband Kerry Drach of Portland and their daughter Gudrun Cram-Drach and her husband Matthew Royer, of Paris, France. So far, there are five great-grandchildren: Anne Margaret, Christobal, Nevan, Thaxter and Benjamin.

The family would like to thank the staff at Falmouth by the Sea for the excellent care Bob has received.

A memorial service will be held on Friday August 16, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Foreside Community Church, UCC, 340 Foreside Road, Falmouth with Rev. Kate Dalton officiating. A reception will follow in the church hall. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Bob’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foreside Community Church, 340 Foreside Road, Falmouth, ME 04105.