Robert M. Files (1922-2015)

Dedham — Robert M. Files, almost 93, passed away peacefully at his beloved home on Phillips Lake on Thursday, July 30, 2015. He was born August 5, 1922 in East Orange, New Jersey.

Rob graduated from East Orange High School in 1939 and went on to college at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. He was an All-State football player in high school and played junior varsity football in college.

Rob accelerated his college coursework so he could enlist in the Navy and serve in World War II. He was a forward observer sending back coordinates from the front lines to help naval artillery target enemy locations. During that time, Rob contracted polio which was diagnosed when he was home on leave.

Rob made a full recovery from that illness. He married Patricia Harris in 1946, raised a family of five children, took two cross-country camping trips with his family, worked as an accounting executive in New York City and in 1974 opened his CPA accounting practice in Bangor. He filed his final tax return for a client at the age of 84.

Rob loved to cook, he enjoyed watching old movies, and taking trips around Maine and the Northeast. He especially enjoyed spending time at Phillips Lake where he spent parts of every year but two and where he lived since 1982. His motto for his later years was “laugh a little; it will make you feel better and might help you live longer”.

Rob was predeceased by his wife Patricia; his sister, Elizabeth Hall; and his two brothers, Dr. Thomas Files and Mr. Richard Files.

Rob is survived by his five children — Carolynn Files Jans and her husband Ed of Onekama, Michigan; Elizabeth Leigh Files of Eugene, Oregon and Karnataka, India; Robert Scott “Matthew” Files and his wife Rabia Tredeau of Prescott, Arizona; Barbara Files and her husband Cris Van Kirk of Pompton Plains, New Jersey; and his son, Andrew Files, who has lived with him at Phillips Lake for a number of years; his six grandchildren — Matthew Jans, Anna Tredeau Barnum, Shinay Tredeau, Tyler Van Kirk, Elaina Van Kirk, and Patrick Van Kirk; and his two great-grandchildren — Ember Rose Barnum and Rohan Matthew Barnum. He is also survived by four nephews and six nieces and all their children and grandchildren.

The family would like to express sincere thanks to the United States Veterans Administration and the Paralyzed Veterans of America for the care and support Rob received, especially later in life.

A gathering in memory of Rob will be held at the Overlook Room of the Lucerne Inn from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday August 5, 2015. Interment at Mount Hope Cemetery and a family gathering at Phillips Lake each to take place at a later time.

Those wishing to remember Rob in a special way, make contribute in his memory to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, One VA Center, Togus, Maine 04330.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.