Robert Merrill Pfeiffer
March 8, 1945- September 20, 2019
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Robert (Bob) Merrill Pfeiffer, 74, of Port Republic, MD. passed away peacefully in residence at the Burnett Hospice Care facility in Prince Frederick MD on Sept. 20, 2019. He is survived by the love of his life, Shirley, step son Tim, granddaughter Jenna, great grandson Theo. Survived by two nephews, two nieces, two grand nephews and two grand nieces; survived by his brothers Bill, and Eric (Diane).
Robert was born in Washington DC, raised in Alexandria VA, attended and graduated from Alexandria public schools. He graduated from Ohio Weslyan University with a major in Zoology. Robert moved to Calvert County after completing his graduate work in Zoology at Georgetown University, Washington DC. Bob was hired by the Calvert County Board of Education to teach the physical sciences in the Fall of 1968. He was initially assigned to Calvert High School eventually being transferred to Northern High School. Within his school system career he taught a German language class for at least one year;. coached football and basket ball at Calvert HS; coached football at Northern HS. He left the teaching profession in the early ’80’s. He went into business as an independent home improvement contractor predominately working in Calvert County. Robert was contracted to build the Solomon’s Visitor Center.
He intermingled paid work as a private contractor with non profit volunteer work in various projects throughout Calvert County. He was heavily involved in the refurbishing the Calvert One Room School House on Broomes Island Road in Port Republic; he spent volunteer time applying his carpentry skills to repairs and upgrades at the Calvert Marine Museum. He was involved with voluntarily attending to the refreshment needs of musical entertainers in the “Green Room” during numerous Calvert Marine museum concerts.
Robert closed his business after 14 or more years. He returned to his field of science taking a job with the Maryland Oyster Recovery program. He helped with planning the rebuilding and relocation of oyster bars in the tributaries of the Chesapeake. He was a member of the Chesapeake Watermen’s Association while running his own crab lines and working on Maryland’s Oyster Recovery Program. Eventually, after leaving the Oyster program, he was hired by the Calvert County government taking a job in the capital projects department. One of his largest assignments there was as the liaison for the county during the construction of the Edward T. Hall aquatic center in Prince Frederick. This project was completed in 2010. Robert left this position and began work with other construction contractors which required commuting to Washington DC. He worked as a project safety officer for independent contractors who had Federal contracts within Washington. He did work for a non profit group in Washington DC, during one period of longer unemployment around the time frame of the Oyster Recover Program. This nonprofit group assisted individuals that were 50+ and unemployed while he was unemployed. This long spell of unemployment after his earlier jobs was his retirement period. He continued with his last Washington contractor job until the Friday before the recently past Labor Day weekend.
One of Robert’s talents, or passions, was playing the guitar. He was a talented player of the five string banjo for many years as well. It is a certainty that many may have seen or heard him and Eric, not his brother, but music partner, playing music at various settings…..throughout Calvert, most frequently in the Solomons (Island) MD area.
Robert will be missed by the family, many extended family members and friends that knew him through his walk in this life before and during his half century of Calvert residence in Port Republic since the late 1960’s.
All services will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 90 Church Street, Prince Frederick MD, 20678. Viewing will be held from 5-8PM on Monday, Sept. 30; memorial Service will be held at 11AM on Tuesday Oct. 1; interment will follow immediately after the memorial service at Asbury Cemetery, route 231 West from Prince Frederick roughly two miles from Trinity UMC.
In lieu of flowers donations made in Robert Pfeiffer’s name are suggested to: The Calvert Marine Museum (calvertmarinemuseum.com) or PO Box 97, Solomons MD 20688; End Hunger In Calvert County (https://endhungercalvert.org/partners-food-pantry/); or a favorite of the donating individual.
Visitation
Monday, September 30, 2019
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Services
- Memorial Service
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
11:00 AM
Interment
- Burial
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
12:00 PM
So sorry for your loss. 🙏🏼
Sarah Callahan
Sorry for your loss
Throughout his life, Bob was always the magnet that drew everyone in a room to him. A big smile, hearty laugh, that wry humor and his unmistakable accent oozing southern charm made him instantly likable. From his student days at Ohio Wesleyan University to his later ventures in life, he remained a born leader, a broad minded man, fair in his dealing with others and always a gentleman. He touched many lives with his thoughtfulness and kindness and will be sorely missed by all of them. Losing Bob has made the world a poorer place.
Our deepest condolences to Shirley and Family. Bob thank you for building the addition to our Bay Cottage. I will always remember you in your “Black Speedo” when I met you 30 years ago on South Beach!! You will be missed but we will catch up with you on the other side. Love, Patrice & Fred Ferris
My most heartfelt condolences. My love, thoughts and prayers are with Shirley and the entire family.
I was Bob’s classmate at Ohio Wesleyan and loved him dearly. We were both from Alexandria. He was a great musician , friend and community member. Love you Bob. Patricia Parkinson
May peace be with you and your beautiful family God is there for you all
I was recently driving and saw that little sports car in front of me . Thinking it was him, I raced to pull up beside him, but it wasn’t him. I ended up waving to a stranger. It made me think of him and wonder how he was doing. We were both fighting the same health issues. This makes me sad beyond what words can say.
I met Bob in 1973, as a fellow teacher, and what I know is that Bob was a man of principles. One of the good guys!
He had a kind heart, and a good soul. He was also the chairman of the One Room School adjacent to Christ Church on Broomes Island Road for many years. His leadership skills were impeccable and he was greatly respected by all.
I am so sorry for your loss, Shirley, and the rest of the family.
Shirley and Family, Bob was one of the best neighbors anyone could ever have. Always a smile and a wave as I played out in the field across from his garden he loved working in. I appreciate the kindness he always give my parents Harold and Eileen Matteson. He leave many happy memories for me. My parents spoke highly of him. Shirley, I will be praying for your comfort and peace during this time.
So sorry for your loss. I played football with Bob at Hammond High.
He connected Jim Laser with me the first day of college and we have been lifelong friends for the last 55 years…Thanks to Bob. RIP.
I am a former seatmate on the 4:30 a.m. Keller bus that Bob took to DC when he worked for Jacobs Engineering Company. He was always full of surprises. I recall one morning he sported a pair of skinny jeans—to my knowledge, he never wore them again!
Just knowing that he is no longer with us makes me so very sad. Seeing Robert was always a bright spot in my day.
Our parents were great friends and it would follow that the Bergin and Pfeiffer kids would share that friendship….since 1964!! May the Lord bless your family, Bob as they remember you and your wit and talent and your heart. Kathy
We were so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. I’m glad we got to hear him recently play with Eric in Solomon’s. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Godspeed.
Shirley……..I always loved hearing Bob play guitar at his many performances in different venues in which I stumbled across him. His music was wonderful. Bob taught with my wife, Pam, at NHS all those years ago in the late 70’s, and she always spoke highly of him. When Bob left teaching and was self employed as a contractor, we hired him to frame the soffits in our kitchen and the two closets in a bedroom of the house we were building. He arrived just hours before the drywall hangers were scheduled to appear. We were panicked, but he was calm, in good humor, in complete control, and had all needed materials. His work was done amazingly well and in time to spare. We were astounded. Of all those who helped us build our house, Bob was the most personable and memorable. He treated our work as an adventure, and he made it one more adventure for us, too. In recent years, I occasionally met Bob at the Calvert Aquatic Center and always enjoyed hearing about his current employment. I can’t believe Bob is no longer with us. We, who knew him, were privileged. His skills and personality were a blessing and model for all of us……….Shirley, I am so sorry for your loss…Bob was a treasure for all of us.