Robert Traill, Jr.
April 24, 1922 ~ March 6, 2023
Resided in:
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Cape Elizabeth-Robert Traill, Jr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on March 6, 2023 at age 100. He was born April 24, 1922 in Providence, RI to Robert and Lillian E. (Lawton) Traill. He graduated from Providence Classical High School in 1939 and from Brown University in 1943 with a B.A. in Economics. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve with final rank of Captain in World War II, participating in battles of Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa with 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division and in the occupation of Kyushu, Japan with the 2nd Marine Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service.
Bob married Helen R. Shanley on July 5, 1946 and joined the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, later renamed ExxonMobil, and served for 33 years as a marketing representative, manager, and College Recruiting Coordinator.
In 1979 he and his wife founded Olsten of Southern Maine in Portland, a temporary help franchise. It was sold in 1991 after which Bob joined St. Joseph’s College as Director of Corporate Relations. In later years he was a professional recruiter and finally Director of Diversified Recruitment for Bonney Staffing Center. In the latter role he was a member of the Older Worker Committee and the Veterans Employment Committee, State Workforce Investment Board, Maine Department of Labor. He received the Second Seals Award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).
During his working years Bob was a member of the Portland YMCA Board of Directors, Chair of the Cumberland County Private Industry Council, President of the Rotary Club of Portland, Maine, Past Chairman of the Maine Medical Center Annual Fund, Maine Medical Center Corporator, and Past Chairman and Life Member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board of Portland, Maine.
Throughout his life Bob enjoyed an active life of community volunteerism, particularly with the Portland Rotary and Salvation Army. One of his favorite projects was helping kids at Lyseth Elementary School with their reading. He kept himself physically fit well into his nineties through the discipline of going to the Sullivan gym at USM 3 times a week and biking throughout Maine and Europe, including France, Italy, Austria and New Zealand, sometimes with his children (who had a hard time keeping up with him!). Other travels included cruising with his wife Helen and touring Scotland and the Orkney Islands to connect with his Scottish ancestors.
Bob was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Helen R. Shanley, parents Robert and Lillian Traill, and brother Donald Traill. He is survived by children Linda A. Eminhizer (Charles), Joan H. Gordon (Jack), Elizabeth T. Craighead (Steven), and Robert Traill, III, grandchildren Robert and John Liechty, Dennis and Erich Eminhizer, Kelly Gordon, Rose (Gordon) Sala, Brian Gordon, nine great grandchildren, and nieces Susan (Traill) Jacobson and Susan (Shanley) Szala.
Bob’s family sincerely wishes to thank the staff at The Landing in Cape Elizabeth for their genuine kindness, compassion and companionship they provided to Bob.
Visiting hours will be held from 3:00-6:00pm on Friday, March 17 at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A funeral service will be held at the Salvation Army, Portland Corps Chapel at 11:00am on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel. To view Robert’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Salvation Army, Portland Corps, P.O. Box 3575, 297 Cumberland Ave. Portland, ME 04104 or 04101 respectively, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME 04102 or Mercy Hospital, 175 Fore River Pkwy, Portland, ME 04102.
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Bob was a co-worker at Saint Joseph’s College and a friend. He accomplished more in 2 days a week than most people accomplish in an entire work week! He saw the value of spreading the word to companies about SJC’s accessible online programs–a practice that we have continued with hundreds of corporate partners. He was a faithful member of Rotary and of the Salvation Army board, and a mentor to us all. He had a quick wit, and we had a lot of laughs together. He would join our SJC team’s get-togethers in Windham for lunch on several occasions. He was generous to a fault. On behalf of the members of the SJC Advancement team in the 1990’s–Sister Miriam Callnan, Sue McAuliffe, Cynthia Baker, Sheri Leavitt, Sr. Joyce Mahany, Renee LeBrun, and our deceased friend, Lois Carlson, I express condolences to Bob’s family, of whom he was incessantly proud! May God comfort you all.
We are so sad to hear of your Dad’s passing. We hate to see him go. He was our hero. We always enjoyed his company. He was such a nice guy and always seemed to be enjoying himself and others. He made you feel special. He was truly a role model and would be the last one to call himself a hero. But he was for the way he lived his life and the way he treated others. There is an African proverb that says “When an old man dies a library burns to the ground”. Your Dad touched many lives, some of those you will never know. They will always remember him fondly.
I was sorry to learn of Bob’s passing but given his 100+ years of positivity, warmth and kindness, I can only celebrate his life. For many years, Bob regularly brought friendly smiles and words to many of us at USM’s Sullivan Gym. He was absolutely inspirational and will be missed. Jo Coyne
I met Bob about 40 years ago in the Portland Rotary Club. He was for years an active and beloved Rotarian. In recent years I saw him at Purpoodock when he would arrive to eat lunch at the bar. Bob was so positive and friendly. He was a real contributor to the local community. I will miss seeing him.
May his memory be a blessing.
Beth and family,
From the great stories we have heard, Bob was a valiant, strong, independent man and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Our condolences to all of you. May your wonderful memories of his life bring you peace.
Rand and Lin Bowden
Dear Traill Family,
What an incredible and full life Bob lived! He was such an inspiration. I worked for him at the Olsten offices both in Portland and Biddeford. I left Olsten to become a teacher. I will never forget the going away party he threw for me at the old Raoul’s. (It was not exactly his kind of place but he was such a good sport about it! ) He and his wife came to my wedding. Many years later I reconnected with Bob when he volunteered at Lyseth School, where I teach. I enjoyed keeping in touch with him and marveled at how busy he kept himself even in his 90s. He enjoyed showing off pictures of his grandkids when we had lunch together. What a legacy he left behind! I wish you all peace during this difficult time.
Without a doubt Bob was a gentleman without a peer. Always positive, thoughtful, kind and caring. Our thoughts to the family as you have had many years with a giant.