Robert T. McEwen

Chardon — Robert T. McEwen, 84, died Tuesday, 20 March 2012 at his home surrounded by his family, after a protracted struggle with cancer.He leaves his wife of 62 years, Pasqualine (Gionfriddo) McEwen, his two sons Robert and Christopher; his two daughters Pamela and Allison; his brother William McEwen; eleven grandchildren, and many close friends.He was born and raised in Oberlin, OH, the son of Mildred French (Crane) McEwen and Robert S. McEwen, college professor. After his military service, he was a lifelong resident of the Cleveland area, spending the last 49 years in Chardon. He also maintained a family summer residence in Frankfort MI (near Traverse City) which he loved, and spent at least part of every summer there.After graduating from Westtown Friends (High) School in 1946, he attended Oberlin College, graduating in 1950 with a B.A. in psychology. He met his wife Pat at Oberlin and they were married there at the chapel on campus in 1950. In 1951 he joined the Coast Guard where he was a lieutenant j.g., serving on the air-sea rescue ship Yocona, stationed in Eureka California.In 1954 he started his career in sales of concrete additives and products, working for various companies including Master Builders and W.R. Grace. His job involved near constant travel around the Cleveland area, not only to visit customers, but to install equipment, which required plumbing and electrical work.Outside of his career, he had many passions, including model HO gauge trains, radio-controlled airplanes, photography, high-fidelity music reproduction, and stock market investments. His final project, in conjunction with a close friend, was the complete restoration of a 1939, 19 ft. mahogany Chris-Craft barrel-back motor boat. His children have many treasured memories of hours spent in the basement workshop building model trains, airplanes, and even a radio-controlled sailboat, while listening to classical music.He was also deeply committed to good health through physical conditioning. Early in his life he started jogging regularly, well before it was popular, and maintained a rigorous workout regimen without fail, right up to three weeks before his death.A memorial service will be held this summer in Frankfort, Michigan. Memorial donations may be made to the Crystal Lake & Watershed Association, P.O. Box 89, Beulah, MI 49617, or to The Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, P.O. Box 601, Frankfort, Michigan, 49635-0601