Robert Boemler

Bob Boemler, beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to so many, passed away quietly on January 15, 2008 after celebrating his 88th birthday on January 12th. He was a wonderful, gentle man who will be missed and remembered with the deepest love and respect always for his long, full life. He touched so many people with his warm smile, sense of fun, and generous, loving spirit. Everyone who knew him has wonderful memories of how he made a positive difference in their lives. We all celebrate this incredible man and the exemplary life he led with such dignity, strength, humor and kindness.

Bob's greatest treasure was his family, especially his adored wife of 64 years, Mimi (Miriam) who was his high school sweetheart back in Indianapolis; his three very proud children and their spouses: son Larry and his wife Alice, son Steve and his wife Cathy, and daughter Phyllis and her husband Gordon. He loved his nine grandchildren and their spouses: Laura and her husband Doug, Sandra, Peter, Isaiah, Victoria, Michelle and her husband Matt, Jennifer and her husband Wyatt, Christopher and his wife Sarah, and Ray. Bob also had six great grandchildren: Taylor, Alissandra, Kaylee, Jackson, Connor and Heather. He leaves behind his dear brother George and his wife Peggy, and his sister Norma and her husband Bill.

His large, extended family and friends are invited to gather to pay tribute to this incredible man, who were all so fortunate to have known and loved him, at 2:00 pm on January 26, 2008 at the Newcomers Chapel in Orlando. He will then be at rest under the moss covered oak trees at Greenwood Cemetery, with a view of the Orlando skyline that he so loved.

Bob was passionate about barbershop style singing and was an active and very talented member in Florida's Sunshine District for over 50 years, and a former director and long-time member of Orlando's Orange Blossom Chorus. His greatest accomplishment was being the highly respected director of The Miamians Chorus who won first place in the 1965 International SPEBSQSA competition in Boston. He was also a member of many award-winning quartets through the years including The Gladesmen, Impact, and Gold 'N' Time, among many others, and was inducted into the Barbershop Hall of Fame. Bob was a legend in this very musical world, and he and Mimi had hundreds of close friends throughout the world because their shared love of barbershop singing.

Bob was also a brilliant man, with a sharp, intellectual mind even until his final moments. He was a handsome Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp during World War II, teaching flight instruction to soldiers which helped America to triumph in the skies; and during the cold war years, he was the Director of Civil Defense in Miami where he lived for much of his adult life. In 1967 he became an aeronautical engineer working at Cape Canaveral on the Saturn Five and Apollo mission projects, helping to create the largest space craft ever designed and the first manned missions to the moon. He then moved to Orlando in 1970 where he was an engineer with Martin-Marietta until his retirement.

Bob became a Baha'i recently and his final conversation was a spiritual one, shared with his beloved son Steve, where he knew he was one with the universe and in the loving care of God. We wish him the peace he so richly deserves, and our heart-felt love and prayers are with him, now and always.

Thank you, Daddy, for a lifetime of devotion, generosity, and treasured memories...