Robert Meehan Obituary

Name: Visitation for Robert Meehan
Start: 2021-12-16T20:00:00.000Z
End: 2021-12-16T22:00:00.000Z
Location: H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel

MEEHAN, Robert

Robert Elliott Meehan of Dunwoody, GA (formerly of Arlington, MA) passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021 at the age of 83.

Robert was born April 27, 1938 in Cambridge, MA as the only child of the late Hilda and Garrett J Meehan. Bob attended Boston Latin School (1955) and went on to earn his Bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College (1959). He served in the US Army Security Agency from 1959-1961, seeing service in Fort Devens (Massachusetts), Korea, Hawaii, and Japan. After attending the MBA program at the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, he joined the public accounting firm of Ernst & Ernst, where he served on their audit and tax staffs for 11 years. From 1975 to 1995, Bob was Tax Manager then Director of Taxes for APAC/Warren Brothers Company, the highway construction subsidiaries of Ashland, Inc. in Boston and Atlanta. He then joined the tax compliance group of KPMG, LLP, in Atlanta and was Director of Taxes for West Building Materials, Tax Manager for Oldcastle, Inc. and finally Director of Taxes for Hays Financial Consulting, LLC until his retirement in 2008. A Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts and Georgia, he was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, and Tax Executives Institute.

An ardent lover of classical music, Bob was a member of the Bowdoin College Glee Club and percussionist and student director of the Bowdoin College Band. At Wharton, he directed the choir at the local Catholic church. From 1965 to 1979 he was a member of the chorus and orchestra of the Philharmonic Society of Arlington in Arlington, MA. Upon moving to Atlanta he was a member and assistant conductor of the Choir and the Schola Cantorum at Dunwoody's All Saints Catholic Church. Since 1980, he has been principal tympanist of the Callanwolde Concert Band, DeKalb County's premiere wind ensemble. Since 1983, he had been an Assistant Conductor of CCB, conducting many memorable performances. He retired from conducting in 2019 and was immediately appointed Assistant Conductor Emeritus.

After retirement, Robert became an avid genealogist, tracing the ancestors and history of his family back to its roots in Ireland, Scotland, Nova Scotia, England, Colonial America, and Portugal. He was able to make 3 trips to Ireland to visit the birthplace of his great-grandfather, connect with found cousins, and visit other sites associated with the family history. As a result of his research he obtained his Irish Citizenship in 2014.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Mary L. Meehan. He is survived by their children: Richard Meehan (Ade) of Norcross, GA; Susan Clark (James) of Stockbridge GA; Karen Ashley (Ken) of Dunwoody GA; Jim Meehan (Lebee) of Huntsville, AL; Tom Meehan (Elizabeth) of Providence, RI; Nancy Meehan of Lilburn, GA; and Carole Oyama (Shinji) of Medford, MA; their grandchildren: Fiona and Reilly Meehan; Kevin Lee; Joshua Clark (Olivia) and April England (Chandler); Jonathan (Rachel), Noah, Meghan, and Anna Ashley; Lorcan Meehan; Garrett and Connor Meehan; Maggie Tomaszewski-Denny (Steven); and great-grandsons James and Leland Clark.

The family will receive visitors at H.M. Patterson & Son – Oglethorpe Hill, Brookhaven on Thursday, December 16 from 3 – 5 PM and 6 – 8 PM. A Funeral mass will be held on Friday, December 17 at 2:00 PM at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations may be made in his memory to Callanwolde Concert Band (http://www.calcb.org/donate/), c/o Glenn Moore, 145 Beaumont Way, Hampton, GA 30228

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Dec. 14, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Meehan

Sponsored by H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel.

4 Entries

Peggy L Pitts Chatfield

December 17, 2021

Sympathies to and prayers for Bob's family during this difficult time. Bob was a very special man. I played with him in the Callanwolde Concert Band for many years and I remember his love for the band and music and his warmth and generosity with his friends and colleagues. He was very knowledgeable in many areas and offered help to his friends whenever he could. He touched many lives and will be lovingly remembered and missed.

Warren Abrahams, Principal Tympanist, Callanwolde Concert Band

December 17, 2021

Bob was my friend, Assistant Conductor Emeritus, percussion section colleague, lobstah , German food and beer guzzling companion and most of all my Thursday night and Concert PITA with the Callanwolde Concert Band for more than 25 years. I already miss your phone call announcing that you have arrived at rehearsal (I'm heeeere!) Our constant ongoing banter with one another. Our December Lobsterfest celebrating your anniversary with your beloved Mary and her December 16th birthday. Our practical jokes we played on Director Raymond Handfield ("Read my Lips, No New Taxes") and your unwillingness to SHARE the tympani parts with me (we are both only children so you know how that scenerio worked out) You will always be my Irish Catholic BROTHER; though Jack Shenk tried several times to lure you into the "Tribe". I drank a shot of Red Feather Irish Whiskey last night to toast and roast you (though my preferred brand is Canadian Club with Ginger Ale on the rocks); I will consume the O'Hara's Stout later as a loving tribute to you. I already finished the lobster bisque a week ago. Be safe on your final journey my friend; give Mary my love and to Jenny, Ed White, Sheldon, Clyde, Joe Peek, Bob Dericksen and others as well. You are now designated as Ray Handfield's Eternal PITA. As you pass St. Peter and enter the gates of heaven, please ANNOUCE YOURSELF by saying in your loud BOOMING VOICE "I'M HEEEEEEEEERE!"