Robert P. Philippe

Robert "Bob" Paul Philippe, 48, of Sanford, Maine, passed away Sunday June 16, 2013 at home after a lifelong illness.Bob was born in Pittsfield MA to Eleanor Schultz Philippe and Alfred B. Philippe, both of whom are now deceased. He graduated from St Joseph High School class of 1983.Bob moved to Maine in 1983 to apprentice at DAP Tool & Mold in Biddeford, where he worked for several years receiving his Journeyman Tool & Moldmaker certificate in 1987 and was a graduate of the Novapax Oberflachentechnik training program of mold polishing technique's in Berlin Germany in 1987. He graduated from York County Technical College in 2000 receiving a degree in Computer Aided Design. Upon graduating he taught CAD at YCTC for several years. Bob's artistic talents included watercolor painting and wood carving of fish and birds. He was a member of the Maine Wood Carvers Assoc. / South Coast Carvers for many years and served as club president for a time. He traveled annually to Bar Harbor, Maine for several years to receive personal instruction in the art of bird carving from nationally known carvers and bird carving authors.Bob's carvings are in collections throughout New England and beyond. One of Bob's most recognizable bird carvings was a commission he produced for a local physician, a full size Bald Eagle, now displayed in the main lobby entrance of Goodall Hospital, Sanford Maine. For many years Bob competed at the State of Maine Sportsman Carving Competition regularly winning numerous ribbons, over the years, for his spectacular carvings. He was also a long time member of Ducks Unlimited.Bob's dog Kayla, who he trained from a pup, was his constant companion. He leaves behind his sister Diane Gingras of Pittsfield, MA, and brothers James Philippe of Sanford, Maine, and David Philippe of The Villages, Florida. He will be missed by his 6 nieces and nephews and his 5 grandnieces and grandnephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, New England Division, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island Suite 300, Topsham, Maine 04086 or Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Memorial Contributions, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, Tennessee 38120. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 17th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale, ME. Following visitation in Maine Robert will be brought home to Pittsfield, Massachusetts for burial. Visitation will be held on Friday July 19, 2013 at 8:30 AM at Dery Funeral Home located at 54 Bradford Street in Pittsfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Church, located at 89 Briggs Ave in Pittsfield. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.