Robert Harold Littlefield

Brewer - Robert "Bob" Harold Littlefield, passed away on August 15, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at Brigham & Woman's Hospital (BWH) in Bostan, MA. Bob was born on January 18, 1938, in Albion, Maine, the son of George W. Littlefield and Velma (Crommett) Littlefield.

Bob and his identical twin brother, Ronald, attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where they were co-captains of the track team, and graduated with bachelor's degrees in physics. The twins then separated ways and pursued graduate degrees in physics from different universities. Bob earned master's degrees from Tuft's University (physics) and the University of Maine (education). Between degrees, Bob served 2 years in the Air Force prior to accepting a position in the physics department at Mount Holyoke College, where he met and married the love of his life, Sarah Dixon. Bob and Sarah moved to Brewer, Maine to raise their family. Bob spent 20+ years teaching physics and math at the high school and college levels. He made the decision to retire from teaching upon developing severe heart failure. To combat heart failure, Bob underwent a lifesaving Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation at BWH. He spent the next 15+ years powered by batteries, cherishing life with his family, and enjoying his many hobbies. He had a lifelong passion for tennis and was able to continue playing, though doubles only, thanks to the VAD. He was very proud of his beautiful perennial gardens and spent hundreds of hours working in them. He loved to walk visitors through his gardens, giving details on each flower. Bob had a special ability to appreciate the beauty of all things in life, whether it was an elegantly set table, a beautiful plate of food, a stunning lily, or the beauty of a day in Maine spent driving along the coast with Sarah.

Bob's last ten years were enriched by his involvement in the Maine Air Museum in Bangor where he served on the Board of Directors and built several STEM displays to demonstrate the Bernoulli effect responsible for flight.

In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by his twin Ronald, and his brother Thomas. His is survived by his wife Sarah (Dixon) Littlefield; his two daughters, Kathryn Willing and her husband Brian of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Lara Dorr and her husband Gregory of Bangor, Maine; his last living sibling, Dennis Littlefield of Albion, Maine; his five grandchildren, Luke Rand and his wife Claud, Colby Rand, Dixon Rand, Virginia "Ginny" Willing, and Eleanor "Nell" Willing; and his five nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and medical staff of the BWH LVAD Team for their loving and compassionate care as Bob and his family maneuvered through their journey of living life with an LVAD heart pump. The Team often lovingly referred to Bob as their clinic's "poster child," as he was their longest surviving recipient of the device and certainly the only one continuing to play tennis.

At Bob's request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Maine Air Museum, PO Box 2641, Bangor, ME 04402.