Robert Joseph Lima

Robert (Bob) J. Lima, longtime resident of Barnstable, passed away unexpectedly on February 17, 2017 at his winter home-away-from-home in Portugal. He was 64 years old. Robert leaves his beloved wife of 44 years, Sheila (nee Doran), his mother, Edna, his sisters, Jean (John P. Lima) and Gail (Michael Ferris), his sisters-in-law, Maureen (Vern) Zimmerman, Kathleen (Tom) Halfpenny, and Eileen (Tim) Thompson. Robert, an uncle, great uncle, and great-great uncle to many, was pre-deceased by his proud father, Americo.

Above all, Robert was devoted to his wife Sheila, who was his soul mate, his best friend, and his true love. He spent his last day enjoying a bike ride along the beautiful Algarve coast in Portugal, living his life, as he always did, to the fullest. Robert was born in Cambridge, MA, graduated from Duxbury High School, and went on to earn an undergraduate degree in architecture and a Master degree in city and regional planning, both from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. It was while at IIT that he met and married his wonderful wife, Sheila.

The two of them pursued careers in Chicago and Lubbock, Texas before they settled permanently in Barnstable. Anyone who knew Robert understood his integrity, his quick wit, his positive outlook and tremendous energy, his devotion to Sheila, his love of food, his crazy driving, and his pursuit of excellence. Robert never settled for giving the minimum in anything he did, personally or professionally. Every day and in everything he always strove to do and be the best he could be. He absolutely lived "Carpe Diem". He pursued his profession as a town planner and planning consultant in cities and towns across the country, including Chicago, Dartmouth, Nantucket, and the State of Massachusetts. He taught architecture and planning as a faculty member at Texas Tech University. Robert formed a consulting business, the BOSHE Institute, that focused on planning, management of environmental resources, and education. He taught science at Franklin High School, and ended his career as Vice-Principal there. Continuing to give to others in his retirement, he was developing a website to help others successfully and happily live a quality retirement in exotic places, just as he was. Robert loved sharing his knowledge and inspiring others to dream big. Most of his dreams came true - a loving wife, a beautiful home that he designed and built with his wife, traveling the globe, and an early retirement. Unfortunately, the dream of a long life with his partner did not come true, but in their years together, they packed in more love and experiences than most of us. If he had one regret, it would be that he left Sheila too soon.

Visitation hours will be on Tuesday, February 28 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Route 6A, Sandwich and a mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope Chapel, Route 6A, West Barnstable. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted to the Robert Lima Scholarship Fund, c/o Franklin Public Schools, 335 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 (Please make checks payable to Robert Lima Scholarship Fund) For directions, obituary, and online guestbook see: http://www.dignitymemorial.com/nickerson-bourne-funeral-home-sandwich

Arrangements under the direction of Nickerson~Bourne Funeral Home, Sandwich, MA.