Robert Benjamin Cote

Falmouth - Robert (Bob) Benjamin Cote, a longtime resident of Falmouth, died peacefully at the age of 95 ½, on December 28, 2014, while surrounded by his children at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. Bob was born in Portland on July 13, 1919 to Joseph Thomas Cote and Alice E. (Purington) Cote and grew up on Munjoy Hill with his brother, Lawrence Eustis, and sister, Gladys. Always proud of his Munjoy Hill roots, he was a lifelong Bulldog, attending Portland Public Schools and graduating from Portland High School in 1937.

An incredibly hard worker and talented salesman, Bob served as an office boy at the National Cash Register Company during his high school years and took a job as a salesman for $12/week with Burbank and Douglass, a china and glass importer, in 1939. In 1945, Bob began his career with New England Telephone Company as an apprentice, quickly moving into the installation and repair division and becoming a service foreman. Soon after, he was selected to participate in their Management Identification Program and was later placed in charge of training, safety, drivers’ education, and CPR programs for all craftsmen, a position he held until his retirement in 1981. Never one to sit idle, Bob quickly put his salesmanship skills to work again, earning his broker license in real estate and joining his good friend, Jacob (Jake) Webb, at Greater Portland Realty. A persistent, convincing, and charismatic man, Bob was well known for selling the unsellable. After Jake’s death, Bob served as the broker on record so that Jake’s daughter, Pamela, had time to earn her broker’s license and continue her family’s real estate legacy.

Bob married Charlotte Maxine (Douglass) Cote on July 17, 1942 in a military ceremony at Fort Williams Chapel in Cape Elizabeth. They lived briefly in Yarmouth before Bob was deployed to the South Pacific in World War II as a signalman first class in the United States Navy, serving nearly four years on the U.S.S. Beryl, PY23. While in the Navy, Bob served as assistant navigator and was honorably discharged on October 12, 1945 at the rank of Chief Quartermaster/Chief Flags. Following his safe return, he and Charlotte built a home overlooking Mussel Cove in Falmouth where they raised their children and lived together for 63 years. Bob continued to live independently in their home for several years after Charlotte’s death, surrounded and cared for by his children, daughter-in law, and granddaughters.

Bob and Charlotte’s picturesque home has been at the heart of the family’s life together, both literally and figuratively. His children have made their homes on adjoining properties, often referred to as the “Cote Compound,” and his grandchildren spent as much time at his home as they did at their own. In fact, to continue the Cote legacy, at his request, his eldest granddaughter and her family have recently made their home in his former residence. Numerous family celebrations have been held at their seaside property, from their daughter’s wedding to their granddaughter’s bridal showers to their 50th wedding anniversary and Bob’s 95th birthday party this past July.

A father to all, Bob served as Falmouth’s President of the American Field Service Club in the 1960s and opened his home and heart to many children over the years, including ones from New Zealand (Aaron Bell), Denmark (Knud Reckweg and his son, Adam Cordes), California (Mike Smith), and Alaska (Ed Gertler).

He and Charlotte devoted their retirements to their granddaughters’ care, spending countless hours attending every event in which his granddaughters participated; he could often be seen in the stands at soccer games, running through fields at cross-country meets, beaming in the stands at concerts and graduations, and digging through the trash at the elementary school to find his eldest granddaughter’s retainer (several times!). In lieu of his own pursuit of higher education due to serving his country, he was a staunch champion of his children’s, grandchildren’s, and even great-grandchildren’s education, setting aside money so financial challenges would never be a barrier to their dreams.

Always up for an adventure, Bob traveled the world with his family, both across the United States and abroad, making many friends along the way. Known for his fierce determination and incredible will, he climbed Machu Piccchu in Peru at 85, traveled to New Zealand at 87, and celebrated his 92nd birthday in Alaska with his son. Bob has always prided himself on living his life according to the tenets of the Boy Scouts of America’s Oath and Law, having joined Troup 12 at the St. Lawrence Congregational Church on Munjoy Hill in the 1920s, and earning his Eagle Scout badge in 1933. He also served as Scoutmaster to Troup 34 in Falmouth for several years, and was a mentor to Eagle Scout candidates. Upon his death, he was the oldest living Eagle Scout in Falmouth, and one of the oldest in the entire state. Bob was a 33rd Degree Master Mason in the Triangle Lodge #1 in Portland Maine, a member of the Scottish Rite, and also a member of the Kora Shriners of Maine and Marco Island, FL. He was a longtime member of Emmaus Lutheran Church.

A proud World War II veteran and patriot, Bob was known and loved by a wide variety of community members, both old and young – from the dry cleaners to the cardiac rehab and gym trainers, from his “bank ladies” and the jewelers to all the bakery employees in the Greater Portland area! He is survived by his son, Ronald Cote and wife Linda of Falmouth, and his daughter, Pamela Potter and husband David of Falmouth. He also leaves his two granddaughters, Cassandra Cote Grantham and husband Andrew of Falmouth, Chelsea Ginn and husband Matthew of Portland, and two great-grandchildren, Charlotte Cote Grantham and Michael Grantham.

There will be a Masonic Service with military honors held on Friday, January 2 at 3:30 pm at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Bob’s life and sign his tributes book. Condolences may also be sent to the Cote family at 21 Old Mill Road in Falmouth, c/o his granddaughter, Cassandra Cote Grantham.

In lieu of flowers and to show gratitude for the support and incredible care provided by Hospice of Southern Maine, donations can be made to:

Hospice of Southern Maine

In Honor of Raef Chapman, CNA (Bob’s primary caregiver and friend)

180 U.S. Route 1

Scarborough, ME 04074