Robert "Bob" Margiloff

Robert "Bob" Margiloff, 83
FALMOUTH - With loving family at his side, Bob Margiloff, beloved father, husband, brother, grandfather, friend, and Westbrook landlord, passed away peacefully at Gosnell Hospice in Scarborough.
Bob was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1935 to Sol and Shirley Margiloff. They bought a home in the country (Baldwin, N.Y.) early in his life where he grew up and excelled in school. He remembers Sundays as a child when all the family came from New York City to enjoy dinner and a day in the country. He had many aunts, uncles, and cousins as both his parents came from large families. He was very proud of his father's hardware store where he worked occasionally. One summer he worked at Jones Beach where he had to direct Yul Brynner to the bath house!
Bob attended Syracuse University and the New York State School of Forestry because a fellow student told him that there were good job opportunities for graduates in the paper industry. He was proud that John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address the year he graduated in 1957. Upon graduation S.D.Warren flew him to Portland where they wined and dined him on lobster at Boone's Restaurant. He accepted the job offer and worked for the company for 37.5 years mostly in the Westbrook mill, but two years in the Boston office early in his career. His other jobs with the company included technical, coding, sales service, cost reduction manager, engineering, and pressure sensitive papers. Before retirement he received a processing patent with a co-worker for a novel splice technique that made a stronger, printable splice. His idea of using bar-coding for quality control was an important innovation at S.D. Warren. While at S.D. Warren, he started a real estate sales career and maintained his real estate license up to his death. He also purchased a six family and two family apartment building in Westbrook which he furnished and managed meticulously until he walked into the hospital for the last time. His tenants adored him and even gave him a party for his 83rd birthday in June.
In 2004 Bob married Jean Rosenblum in a beautiful backyard Jewish wedding surrounded by friends, family, and flower gardens. Rabbi Harry Sky officiated and music and dancing was provided by the the Casco Bay Tummlers. Bob and Jean spent wonderful years in their gardens, playing tennis, going to concerts and the theater, being with their children and grandchildren, and traveling all over the world. One of their favorite trips was a 15 day tour of Israel with a side excursion to Petra in Jordan. Also a visit to Santorini in Greece and looking for the best pizza in Italy were fond memories. They loved their timeshare on the beach in Cancun which, last March, was their last trip together.
In September of 2011, Bob was diagnosed with stage 4 Large B cell Lymphoma. After two unsuccessful chemo treatments, he was told to get his affairs in order and go on a vacation-but there was another chemo that they could try which was not for that type of cancer. Bob said "yes" to the chemo and they flew off to St. Maarten. In the middle of that trip he started to feel better-soon his beard started growing back and after a few more treatments he was in remission for three years. He and Jean made the most of this time traveling whenever they could find time with their busy work schedules. Then lymphoma raised its ugly head with tumors which they were able to treat with radiation. Bob worked endlessly at his apartment buildings through all of this treatment and they continued to travel when possible. Finally the cancer spread throughout his body for which there were no more treatments available. He was a very courageous man who never gave up. I challenge anyone to find a more passionate landlord.
Bob is survived by his wife, Jean Rosenblum of Falmouth; his son Peter and his wife Nancy Margiloff of Tinton Falls, NJ, his daughter Susan Margiloff of Nashville, Tenn.; his granddaughters Jennifer and Nicole Margiloff of Tinton Falls, N.J.; his sister and brother-in-law Judy and Andrew Ratway of Smithtown, N.Y., Laura Pecoraro and husband Donn Karatsanos of Windham; step-daughter Amy Rosenblum-Martín; and grandchildren Mireia and Hélio Rosenblum-Martín of NYC; his first wife and mother of Peter and Susan, Margery Pecoraro of Delray Beach, Fla.
The family would like to thank The New England Cancer Specialists in Scarborough for their wonderful care during all of Bob's fight with cancer. Without the great knowledge and loving care of Jacqueline Hedlund, his oncologist-hematologist and his amazing PA Jaime Fairfield, Bob would have never survived and enjoyed so many years in remission.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, August 30, at 10 a.m. at Etz Chaim Synagogue on Congress St. in Portland followed by interment services at Temple Beth El Memorial Park on Johnston Rd. near Portland airport.
Shiva will be held at Jean Rosenblum's home in Falmouth on Friday, August 31, between the hours of 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers,
the family suggests a donation
in Bob's name to the:
New England Cancer Specialists
in Scarborough at
snellfoundationmaine.org or
to a charity of your choice