Obituary of Robert Plaut

Robert K. Plaut, of Monroe passed peacefully from this life on April 27, 2013 at the age of 80 in Belfast. He was born in New Haven, CT to the late Emil and Marion Plaut on August 29, 1932. He grew up and spent his first 60 years in Connecticut. He attended schools in Hamden, CT and was an avid ice hockey player in high school. He joined the Air Force in 1951 at the age of 19. After his service in the Air Force he returned to Connecticut where he received additional training and became an elevator repair mechanic. He worked for Otis Elevator until he retired after working there for 25 years. He met Carol Cross in 1975 and they fell madly in love and spent the next 38 years together. Robert helped Carol raise her three young children as if they were his own. After he retired from Otis, Robert worked for the State of Connecticut for a few years. He and Carol decided it was time they both retire and in 1992 moved to Monroe, Maine, where they lived for 19 years. The past two years Robert lived at Tall Pines with his wife Carol in Belfast, Maine. Robert loved the winter, skiing and Maine. His happiest years were spent with Carol at his home in Monroe puttering around the house always looking for something he could fix. He loved the days he could get out on his lawn tractor and mow the lower 40 as he called it. Robert was the LL Bean guru and it was a favorite place he and his granddaughter visited together, they were known as the LL Bean pair to their family. He was so incredible proud of his grandson Brandon’s college acceptance into Rochester Institute of Technology – he always advocated education and more education. His nickname Sparky, was truly a testament to his personality - he had a special spark to him. He had the most incredible blue eyes that truly did sparkle. They sparkled more when he was joking and pushing someone’s buttons – which he loved to do. He loved doing home projects with his son in law Bernie. They both have the same way about planning, fixing or making things. Robert was a tremendous skier in his day, skiing the northeast and Europe. He belonged to a ski club and raced downhill and giant slalom. Robert loved skiing so much he got a skier tattooed on his arm, which became his trademark over the past few years with all the care givers, nurses and doctors he came in contact with. His family will miss his mantra of having two or more of most everything, a running family joke. Family was most important to Robert, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He spent the recent years being Carol’s primary care giver and devoted his time to caring for her when she became ill. Robert adored his adopted Maine family, Angela, Big Bob, Morgan and Kirstin. They meant the world to him over the past 3 years, more than they will ever know. He is survived by his wife Carol of 38 years, their children Christine Tippelmann and her husband Bernie, his son Jason Cross, and his grandchildren, Brandon, Delaney and Emily all of Connecticut. A memorial service will be held at Riposta Funeral home in Belfast, ME on Friday, May 3, 2013 at 1pm. Please visit www.ripostafh.com to offer condolences to the Plaut family. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations can be made in Robert’s honor to Tall Pines Nursing Home, Belfast ME, Activities Fund or Waldo County Home Health and Hospice, Belfast ME. A memorial service will be held at Riposta Funeral home in Belfast, ME on Friday, May 3, 2013 at 1pm.