Robert Gerard Maxwell

Robert Maxwell of Fort Myers, Florida died at the age of 92 on Friday, January 15, 2016 at Hope Hospice in Ft. Myers.Mr. Maxwell was born in Burlington, Iowa on June 18, 1923 to James Sr. and Georgia Mae Lind Maxwell. He loved traveling, boating, taking long brisk walks, training dogs and good classical music but his statement of the greatest highlight of his life was meeting his wife Colleen, wedding her and together producing two great children. He loved his family most of all and was always there to help in any capacity, including playing Santa Claus.Mr. Maxwell was a sole practitioner attorney his entire legal life. He started his life of dedication to hard work and high ideals at the age of 15 operating a 125 acre farm in Ohio, working in steel mills, production shops and shell-casing factories. He served in the US Navy in WWII and worked his way through law school at the University of Miami. Mr. Maxwell was admitted to the American Bar Assoc., the Florida Bar and the Hialeah-Miami Springs Bar Assoc. His last area of expertise for many years was consultation with cemeteries and funeral homes under Florida Statute Chapters 497 & 470. He accomplished the establishment of the first code provisions for the construction of mausoleum buildings within cemeteries which has become a part of Florida Building Codes. He served with the Legislative committee of the Florida Cemetery Association for more than two decades.He was also president of the Hialeah-Miami Springs Bar Association, Hialeah-Miami Springs Chamber of Commerce and Miami Springs Optimist Club; served by representing children in need with the Guardian ad Litem program; and sat on the Dade County Local Government Study Commission, Task Force on Abandoned & Neglected Cemeteries and Comptroller's Legislative Advisory Board.Mr. Maxwell was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Colleen R. Maxwell, who worked by his side in the law office for all his years of practice; his parents; his sisters, Jean Loescher and Molly Townsend; his brother James Maxwell; and a grandson, Judson Rainey.He is survived by his two daughters, Kathleen (Barry) Hilliard of Bell, Florida and Patricia (Steve) Macy of Georgetown, Texas; his brother, John (Lovina) Maxwell of Mississippi; grandchildren: Rob (Karen) Rainey, Eric (Laura) Rainey, Kevin (Christine) Rainey, Steve Jr (Rebecca) Macy, Chris (Gina) Macy, Andrea (Bob) Gray, Michael (Rachel) Macy; and great-grandchildren Amanda, Halle, Olivia, Drew, Lauren, Isaac, Colleen and Lillian; and many nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made in the name of Robert Maxwell to Hope Hospice, 9470 Health Park Circle, Ft. Myers, FL 33908 who were so very helpful and gracious during this time or to Guardian ad Litem Foundation, 2075 West First St., Ft. Myers, FL 33901 for whom Mr. Maxwell served for years helping young people in need.Memorial Vigil will be held Wednesday, January 20, 2016 from 5 until 7:00 p.m. at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 12171 Iona Road, Ft. Myers, FL 33908. Funeral Services will be held at St. Columbkille, Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. with a gravesite service and interment following at 3:00 p.m. at Vista Memorial Gardens, 14200 NW 57th Avenue, Miami Lakes, FL 33014; 305/821-1421