Robert Lawrence Pillote

On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Robert Lawrence Pillote, of Bethesda, Maryland. Bob was born in Escanaba, Michigan on June 25, 1929. His family moved to Washington, D.C. in the mid-1930’s when his parents came to the area to work for the federal government. He graduated from McKinley Tech High School in June, 1947. After taking a year off to explore Alaska he attended Gettysburg College, graduating in 1952. He was then drafted into the army and following a year of service in the Army Corps of Engineers, he attended George Washington University Law School, graduating in 1956. Bob met the love of his life, Barbara Wiegand, through the youth group at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where they were married on July 25, 1953. Bob practiced law in the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland for 44 years, the last 20 years of which were in partnership with his son, Robert, Jr. He retired in 2000 to focus on his other passions - he was an avid golfer, enjoyed traveling, and particularly enjoyed an ice-cold glass of Yuengling beer or a tumbler of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey on the rocks.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 73 years, Barbara Wiegand Pillote, his three children, Margaret Lynn (Gunther), Katherine (Brian) and Robert, Jr. (Christine), his grandchildren, Andrew, Sarah, Jeff, Vicki, Zibby, and Bobby, and 6 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4900 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, with visitation in the Lower Auditorium of the church before the service starting at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Washington, D.C., or Gettysburg College.