HASKELL Family Reunion

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From Our Kitchen
The Story of Bob
(Robert Elliott Haskell--as remembered by Jean, his sister
with some details provided by Bob)
(Continued from page 1)

Bob After household goods arrived, the family settled into a fine new apartment near Copacabana Beach, with live-in maid's quarters (and maid!). The Bank provided a club membership, Bob started taking a taxi to work, and life was quite unlike Deer Isle or New York. Each year the family would fly back to the States and spend a month in Deer Isle. Bob's memories of Brazil include the birth of Catherine. Also, homemade Christmas trees fashioned from a broomstick, the annual pre-Lenten Carnivals, David Rockefeller's visit, and the frenzied celebrations of the Cariocas national soccer team. This was led by a legend named Pele, won the World Cup in Mexico (we saw all games on TV).
Although his tour in Brazil had earned him a bank promotion to Systems Planning Officer, Bob had been away from changes in both technology and office politics for 4 years, and after some time he felt his career was not moving ahead. Commuting from his new home on the north shore of Long Island -- Huntington, across the street from the Gidges -- was a headache; and except for a brief stab at barbershopping, music wasn't a factor in his life; and the older girls were enrolled in big suburban schools. Bob felt an itch to chuck his city life and go and live at the Farm in Deer Isle all year round instead of just vacationing there. Bob and Soon did sell the Massapequa Park house, and bought another house in Dix Hills as a rental property investment. Soon's domestic talents were being augmented by a fascination with real estate, a step that would serve them both well in the next phase of their lives together. In May 1974, Bob went to Deer Isle to plant the garden, and as soon as school was over, the family moved to Maine.
Remodeling the Farm was long and hard work. It had to be winterized and modernized. A garage was made out of the dirt cellar under the old barn. Dave and Bob planted fruit trees, and eventually Soon built a welcoming patio, brick by brick. It took some years, but the old place (1893) was almost unrecognizable, with a new kitchen, and a beautiful family room carved out of the old barn.
At school in Deer Isle the girls were welcomed; Susanne's fellow students elected her president of the class a few weeks after school started, and both parents breathed a sigh of relief. After a while Bob got on the School Board, and later became Second Selectman, a position he held for 20 terms.
Within a couple of years, David also left the Bank, and went to Deer Isle to live, summering at his camp and wintering in a series of different houses. He installed running water and later, electricity and other improvements in his camp.
Lydia Bob had always kept an eye on his mother, who was living by herself in the family home in Berlin from the time Ben died. After a bout with cancer and surgery, she was still managing well, but Bob and Soon decided when Lydia was about 84 that she would be better off living nearer to the family. Lydia agreed to invest in building a small apartment in a part of the former barn at the Farm. An architect whipped up a plan that included direct access to Bob's family room, and skilled Deer Isle carpenters soon had the work done. Lydia's favorite furniture and possessions from Berlin were moved to Deer Isle, and she spent the last 3 1/2 years of her life there, watching her beloved granddaughters grow up. She passed away surrounded by family at home, on March 28, 1982.
During this period Bob and Soon allowed cousin Dorothea to have a small house moved onto the Farm property for her to live in, as her cottage in Eggemoggin was not winterized. Once in Maine, Bob had to keep earning a living. First, he tried selling his services operating a portable sawmill he had bought, but he was less than a master mechanic. Then he worked at the local lumberyard, driving a truck and a forklift. Next, he began keeping books for an old friend at the local Texaco (and pumping gas sometimes). With college expenses looming ahead, he found a better opportunity when the local Power Company was sold to a Florida man, who picked Bob as the Treasurer. Bob installed a computer and was fairly content, until the owner decided to sell out. After another brief holiday, he was asked by another old acquaintance to install a computer for his auto parts and fuel business. About the time this task was completed the bookkeeper retired, and Bob took on that job full time, again on computer, until he retired in 1989.
Band But Maine also presented musical opportunities, and Bob was active from the late 1970's with a variety of musical groups. From the church choir (briefly), to the quartet in "Music Man," to a number of Dixieland jazz bands, the Deer Isle 4th of July band, a woodwind quintet in Blue Hill, and in 1989, the Blue Hill Big Band. Later, the Bob Haskell Big Band (using the same fronts, with BH in big letters!). They played for David's 75th birthday party at the camp. He loved the string bass and bought one, later playing occasionally with friends from Baltimore who came to settle near the Island. So, even though Bob never became a full-time musician, he found many outlets for his love of playing, both classically and in jazz.
In the 1980's, Bob and Soon continued their interest in real estate buying and management. They purchased a house in Stonington that had been converted to two apartments, and bought the so-called Sunset House, a big old place that had been divided into 4 units back in the 1960's. For several years they owned a condo in St. Croix near Ruth's, but Hurricane Hugo (1989) wrecked it. Bob never slept in it, but Soon and Susanne did; and not long after it was rebuilt, they sold out and said "good-bye" to the Virgin Islands.
Now retired, the grandparents of Andrew, Michael and Leo keep in close touch with the family and can travel to Massachusetts frequently to be with them. A Honda ATV purchased 2 years ago helps with yard and woods chores, and Bob and Soon still repaint and clean ovens between tenants. A wood fire burns all winter in their comfortable family room at the Farm. Cable TV, originally a gift from the girls, helps shorten the cold months. Bob's musical life continues as a clarinetist in the Bangor Band, occasional performances with his trio, and a few summer jobs with the Big Band. This warm-hearted, community-minded, wise and musically gifted man is capable of doing anything he wants to, and the whole family looks up to him.
JLK/REH
5/4/03

Any comments or questions? Contact
louise@loesch.net
S i t e d e s i g n b y W e b f a i r

Home Family History Family Tree Photo Album Reminiscing Reunion Info Family News Address Book From Our Kitchen		The Story of Bob (Robert Elliott Haskell--as remembered by Jean, his sister with some details provided by Bob) (Continued from page 1) After household goods arrived, the family settled into a fine new apartment near Copacabana Beach, with live-in maid's quarters (and maid!). The Bank provided a club membership, Bob started taking a taxi to work, and life was quite unlike Deer Isle or New York. Each year the family would fly back to the States and spend a month in Deer Isle. Bob's memories of Brazil include the birth of Catherine. Also, homemade Christmas trees fashioned from a broomstick, the annual pre-Lenten Carnivals, David Rockefeller's visit, and the frenzied celebrations of the Cariocas national soccer team. This was led by a legend named Pele, won the World Cup in Mexico (we saw all games on TV). Although his tour in Brazil had earned him a bank promotion to Systems Planning Officer, Bob had been away from changes in both technology and office politics for 4 years, and after some time he felt his career was not moving ahead. Commuting from his new home on the north shore of Long Island -- Huntington, across the street from the Gidges -- was a headache; and except for a brief stab at barbershopping, music wasn't a factor in his life; and the older girls were enrolled in big suburban schools. Bob felt an itch to chuck his city life and go and live at the Farm in Deer Isle all year round instead of just vacationing there. Bob and Soon did sell the Massapequa Park house, and bought another house in Dix Hills as a rental property investment. Soon's domestic talents were being augmented by a fascination with real estate, a step that would serve them both well in the next phase of their lives together. In May 1974, Bob went to Deer Isle to plant the garden, and as soon as school was over, the family moved to Maine. Remodeling the Farm was long and hard work. It had to be winterized and modernized. A garage was made out of the dirt cellar under the old barn. Dave and Bob planted fruit trees, and eventually Soon built a welcoming patio, brick by brick. It took some years, but the old place (1893) was almost unrecognizable, with a new kitchen, and a beautiful family room carved out of the old barn. At school in Deer Isle the girls were welcomed; Susanne's fellow students elected her president of the class a few weeks after school started, and both parents breathed a sigh of relief. After a while Bob got on the School Board, and later became Second Selectman, a position he held for 20 terms. Within a couple of years, David also left the Bank, and went to Deer Isle to live, summering at his camp and wintering in a series of different houses. He installed running water and later, electricity and other improvements in his camp. Bob had always kept an eye on his mother, who was living by herself in the family home in Berlin from the time Ben died. After a bout with cancer and surgery, she was still managing well, but Bob and Soon decided when Lydia was about 84 that she would be better off living nearer to the family. Lydia agreed to invest in building a small apartment in a part of the former barn at the Farm. An architect whipped up a plan that included direct access to Bob's family room, and skilled Deer Isle carpenters soon had the work done. Lydia's favorite furniture and possessions from Berlin were moved to Deer Isle, and she spent the last 3 1/2 years of her life there, watching her beloved granddaughters grow up. She passed away surrounded by family at home, on March 28, 1982. During this period Bob and Soon allowed cousin Dorothea to have a small house moved onto the Farm property for her to live in, as her cottage in Eggemoggin was not winterized. Once in Maine, Bob had to keep earning a living. First, he tried selling his services operating a portable sawmill he had bought, but he was less than a master mechanic. Then he worked at the local lumberyard, driving a truck and a forklift. Next, he began keeping books for an old friend at the local Texaco (and pumping gas sometimes). With college expenses looming ahead, he found a better opportunity when the local Power Company was sold to a Florida man, who picked Bob as the Treasurer. Bob installed a computer and was fairly content, until the owner decided to sell out. After another brief holiday, he was asked by another old acquaintance to install a computer for his auto parts and fuel business. About the time this task was completed the bookkeeper retired, and Bob took on that job full time, again on computer, until he retired in 1989. But Maine also presented musical opportunities, and Bob was active from the late 1970's with a variety of musical groups. From the church choir (briefly), to the quartet in "Music Man," to a number of Dixieland jazz bands, the Deer Isle 4th of July band, a woodwind quintet in Blue Hill, and in 1989, the Blue Hill Big Band. Later, the Bob Haskell Big Band (using the same fronts, with BH in big letters!). They played for David's 75th birthday party at the camp. He loved the string bass and bought one, later playing occasionally with friends from Baltimore who came to settle near the Island. So, even though Bob never became a full-time musician, he found many outlets for his love of playing, both classically and in jazz. In the 1980's, Bob and Soon continued their interest in real estate buying and management. They purchased a house in Stonington that had been converted to two apartments, and bought the so-called Sunset House, a big old place that had been divided into 4 units back in the 1960's. For several years they owned a condo in St. Croix near Ruth's, but Hurricane Hugo (1989) wrecked it. Bob never slept in it, but Soon and Susanne did; and not long after it was rebuilt, they sold out and said "good-bye" to the Virgin Islands. Now retired, the grandparents of Andrew, Michael and Leo keep in close touch with the family and can travel to Massachusetts frequently to be with them. A Honda ATV purchased 2 years ago helps with yard and woods chores, and Bob and Soon still repaint and clean ovens between tenants. A wood fire burns all winter in their comfortable family room at the Farm. Cable TV, originally a gift from the girls, helps shorten the cold months. Bob's musical life continues as a clarinetist in the Bangor Band, occasional performances with his trio, and a few summer jobs with the Big Band. This warm-hearted, community-minded, wise and musically gifted man is capable of doing anything he wants to, and the whole family looks up to him. JLK/REH 5/4/03
		Any comments or questions? Contact louise@loesch.net S i t e d e s i g n b y W e b f a i r