Robert Joseph Surette

Our loving father Robert (Bob) Surette passed away peacefully on November 3, 2021 at the Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Northern Virginia. Bob was born on June 28,1925, the son of Simon and Annie Surette, who lived in Malden, Massachusetts. In his later years, Bob was living with his daughter Dorothy and her husband Louis in Fairfax Station, Virginia, who together took great care of him.

Bob is survived by his daughter Dorothy and her husband Louis from Fairfax Station, Virginia; his son Robert and his wife Beth from Hermon, Maine; and his son David and his wife Karen from Williamsburg, Virginia. In addition, Bob is survived by 9 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; his sister-in-law Chrissie and several cousins, nieces and nephews, who all remember him very fondly.

During World War II, Bob served in the United States Navy during 1943-1946. During this period he served as a radioman 3rd Class aboard the AO-72 USS Niobrara. He saw military action in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. Bob often shared memorable stories of the various naval battles he participated in to include Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Saipan, and the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to name a few. During his military career, Bob earned several honors and unit awards to include the Good Conduct Medal, WW II Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European-Middle Eastern Area Ribbon, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon, while the AO-72 USS Niobrara received two battle stars in the Asiatic-Pacific Area.

After the war, Bob met and married the love of his life, Ann. For many years, they lived happily together in their dream home in Reading, Massachusetts where they raised their family. In Reading, Bob worked as a wholesale florist where he grew and cultivated carnations and later snapdragons in his two greenhouses.

Over the years, Bob and Ann enjoyed their annual vacations to Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire and traveling Down East to Surette's Island, Nova Scotia, where they enjoyed many fishing and boating trips with their children and grandchildren. In addition, they also enjoyed several fall foliage trips throughout the New England area with several longtime friends.

In retirement, Bob and Ann moved to Bangor, Maine. Clearly, Bob was a lucky man having married Ann, whom he shared 48 wonderful years prior to her passing in 1995. Three years later, he married Julie Surette and they shared 18 caring and loving years together on Surette's Island prior to her passing in 2016.

Bob was buried next to Ann in Bangor, Maine. Donations may be made to the Diabetes Association.