Robert Emery Armitage

Bob was born in South Portland on September 2, 1932, the son of William O. and Edna E. Armitage. He graduated from South Portland High School in 1950. He attended college for two years before being drafted into the Army and served from 1953-1955. After being honorably discharged he returned to his studies and received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Syracuse University in 1958. While at Syracuse he met Nancy Ann Schwarz, of Yonkers, New York, who he married on October 18, 1958.

He worked with his father in the architectural firm Armitage Architects in Portland, and also formed his own company, Architectural Interior Systems. He designed many schools and professional buildings around the state and was the architect of the Maine State Pavilion at Expo ’67 in Montreal, Canada. He was instrumental in founding the Maine Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute, was the first President of the Chapter, and was a Fellow and emeritus member of the national organization. He was Chair of the Maine Board of Licensure for Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers, and therefore represented the state on the New England Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Bob was gregarious and loved to make people laugh, especially his grandchildren who called him Da. He attended as many of their sports, academic and theater events as he could. He usually cheered as boisterously as was appropriate, although he was once ejected from a soccer match for yelling at a ref one too many times. During the summer Bob enjoyed spending time at his camp on Little Sebago, cruising the lake in his vintage Chris Craft, watching his grandchildren play “King of the Float” and just relaxing and spending time with his family. He was happiest when he had brought the whole family together.

Bob was very active at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, where he served on the Vestry, including as Senior Warden. He also sang in the choir for several decades, was a sub-deacon and a chalice bearer. He loved seeing his grandchildren acolyte, and even after he stopped singing in the choir he loved to get the family together for Christmas Eve at the Cathedral. He always insisted that someone say grace when the family got together for a meal.

He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 55 years; son Alan, his wife Nicole and their children Tristan and Erin, of Spokane, WA; son Neil, his wife Julie, and their children, twins Robert E. Armitage II and Reece of Falmouth; and son William, and his children Jacob and Gwen of Falmouth. He is also survived by his sister Paula Allen and her husband Roger of South Portland.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18th at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, with a reception to follow in the Cathedral Hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or Hospice of Southern Maine.