READFIELD - Robert 'Bob' Folsom peacefully passed away on May 8, 2008, at his home on Maranacook Lake, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Newburyport, Mass., on April 12, 1930, a son of Herbert and Dorothy Farnham Folsom. They moved to Augusta in May 1930, where he grew up on Cedar Street with his brothers, Bud, Brud and Bill and sister Marjorie. He graduated from Cony High School in 1948 and attended prep school at Dean Academy from 1948 to 1949. An avid athlete, Bob played football, basketball and baseball throughout his school years. He went on to attend Springfield College and received his bachelor's degree on June 14, 1953. He was active in the Army from 1953 to 1955 and remained in the Reserves until 1961. From 1955 to 1966, he was a teacher and coach at Dean Junior College in Franklin, Mass., where he met his wife, Elaine Bigelow. They were married on Aug. 31, 1957, in the Trinity Church on the Green in Branford, Conn. He completed his master's degree in education while taking night classes at Boston University. In 1960, Elaine and Bob purchased land on Maranacook Lake in Readfield, where they established Folsom's Brothers Day Camp, which they ran from 1961 to 1975. In 1968, he took a teaching position at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, where he taught for 21 years as an associate professor. In 1976, he established the Lifeline Program at the Sullivan Gymnasium. He was also instrumental in the development of the Back Cove Walking Trail in Portland. During the 1970s and into the 1980s, Bob was an accomplished racquetball player, ranked second in the nation in the senior division of the American Amateur Racquetball Association and was inducted into the Maine Racquetball Hall of Fame on April 1, 1995. He and his beautiful wife, Elaine, raised five children at 81 Brighton Ave. in Portland. Their home was always a warm and welcome place to friends and family. In 1989 he retired from the university and with help from his son, Joe, built a retirement home for he and Elaine on Maranacook Lake, where they enjoyed many years together. Bob was a pillar of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Readfield. He had served over the years on the Bishop's Committee; filled each office of the men's club of the church; been a driving force of the churches Outreach Program, especially the Mount Vernon Food Bank and sponsoring youngsters in Haiti and the Nothing But Nets Program; and written the only known history of St. Andrew's Church. Bob was instrumental in an addition to the church named the Wilson Room. Up until the last few years, he volunteered as keeper of the building and grounds. He and Elaine had hosted a lobster and clam bake at their home for many years for the church picnic. Bob loved the outdoors. Hunting and fly-fishing were his passion. He especially enjoyed his yearly trips to his family camp on the St. John River with his sons Joe and Dan, son-in-law Rick and many good friends. He had a gift for getting people together to make things happen; whether it be a church fair, reroofing the camp, splitting wood, or helping a friend, Bob made it fun. He was a leader in life and lived each day with purpose and compassion. Surviving are his wife of almost 51 years, Elaine; son Dan and his wife, Jessica, of Winthrop; son Joe and his wife, Theresa, of Raymond; daughter Cindy, of Topsham; daughter Nancy, of Portland; daughter Debbie and her husband, Rick, of Standish; eight beautiful grandchildren; and his two dogs, Millie and Max. Also surviving are his brother, Bill, and sister Marjorie Clark. There are no visiting hours. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, at The Meeting House on Church Road in Readfield. A reception will follow at St. Andrew's Church next door to The Meeting House. Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Nothing But Nets program at St. Andrews Church, Church Road, Readfield, ME 04355. Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. www.khrfuneralhomes.com