Dr. Robert C. "Bob" Maris

Dr. Robert C. “Bob” Maris, 70, of Mansfield, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Broad Acres Health & Rehab. Center in Wellsboro. His battle with cancer and renal failure has ended, following a lengthy stay in the hospital and nursing home. He survived bladder cancer in 2004, but was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL) in 2019. Following extensive treatment, he was in remission but then developed another Leukemia (AML) and Bone Marrow Cancer. Despite his many years of dealing with medical issues, Bob still remained committed to his job, his friends, and his community with his “punny” sense of humor. 

 Bob was born on February 9, 1954 in Marlin, Texas to E.L. and Ava Maris. He grew up in Navasota, Texas, graduating from Navasota High School in 1972. Immediately after graduation, he started attending Texas A&M University where he met the love of his life, Yvonne Starkey. They met on a blind date arranged by their mothers and a mutual friend in February 1974. Bob received his B.S. degree in Biological Oceanography (cum laude) from Texas A&M in December 1975. He proposed on July 4, 1976 and they married on August 21, 1976, and immediately left for Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where Bob began his Master’s degree at the University of Southern Mississippi and this is where he found his love of teaching. He completed his M.S. in Marine Biology in May 1980. Next stop, Norfolk, Virginia, where Bob began his Ph.D. studies at Old Dominion University and this is where his love for travel began. After six years of research in the Chesapeake Bay studying blue crab larvae, presenting and publishing his findings at Biology meetings all over the U.S. and internationally, he graduated with a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography in May 1986. 

 Following graduation from Old Dominion, Bob was hired at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (outside Philadelphia, PA). He taught at Cheyney, serving as Acting Chair and continuing his teaching and research endeavors for 2 years before transferring to Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in Mansfield, PA, in 1986, where he lived and taught for the remainder of his life. He was also chair of the MU Biology Department for 10 years and was a full professor, his door was always open for anyone with a problem or if they just wanted to chat. In addition to continuing his Marine Biology research he also led Bioremediation studies and raised axolotls. 

 During his time at Mansfield, he was very active with student organizations and athletics. He served as Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA for 27 years, cheerleading advisor (with Yvonne) for 28 years, and advisor to several student organizations (Sigma Zeta, the Biology Club, the LEO Club, the Photography Club). He could be seen every year on the Biology Club homecoming parade float. He was not just an advisor, he was involved. 

 Bob was a Boy Scout and received the Eagle Scout award while in high school. He was a member of many professional Biology organizations while in college including the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology and The Crustacean Society. While at Cheyney and Mansfield, he was a member of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists where he held several offices over the years as president, presentation judging coordinator, and CPUB director for both Cheyney and Mansfield. Bob also received many awards and recognitions while at Mansfield including Faculty-Student Athletic Mentor, Outstanding Senior Mentor, and Outstanding Mentor of Women Students. 

 Bob was also a community leader in Mansfield. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mansfield where he was a ruling elder, a eucharistic minister, and the liaison to the Boy Scouts. As a member of the Manfield Lions Club for 34 years, Bob served as President and Secretary, and received the Melvin Jones Fellow (the highest award in Lions) in 2011. 

 In his “spare” time, Bob also enjoyed several hobbies: photography, Civil War history, Fantasy Football, traveling and cruising, going to country music festivals and Broadway plays, and playing Pokemon. He loved the Dallas Cowboys. He and Yvonne traveled to all 50 states, Australia and New Zealand, many European countries, Russia, Cuba, and Peru. They also cruised to the Caribbean; transatlantic to Spain, Gibraltor and Italy; Alaska; and the Baltic Sea. On all of these trips, Bob’s love for photography shined because he took thousands of pictures. 

 Bob is preceded in death by his parents and his cousin, Frances Williams. Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Yvonne, and his cousin, Linda Sue Williams, distant family members, many friends and former students. 

 Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Sunday, October 27, 2024, from 1- 3 p.m., at Wilston-Currie Funeral Home, 130 S Main St, Mansfield. PA. Bob’s funeral service will immediately follow viewing hours at 3:00 p.m., led by Stuart Hague, with music provided by Tom Wierbowski. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Mansfield Foundation, 54 S Main St, Mansfield, PA, where a scholarship fund to benefit the Biology students at Commonwealth University-Mansfield has been set up in Bob’s name, www.wilstoncurriefh.com.