Robert E. Dunbar, 84, passed away on the morning of March 29 at the Togus VA Medical Center. Born in Quincy, Mass. on Nov. 24, 1926, he was the son of Charles W. and Eva (Duquette) Dunbar.
Robert attended schools in Quincy, and would go on to get his degrees in English and Journalism from Marietta College and Northwestern University. While attending Northeastern University, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was later honorably discharged.
Mr. Dunbar worked in the Chicago area from 1954 to 1975, before he and his family moved to Maine. Among the positions he held in the Chicago area were Director of Communications for the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Director of the Public Information Division for the American Fund for Dental Education and Health.
While in the Chicago area, he was elected an American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Fellow in 1972. Mr. Dunbar served as president of AMWA’s Greater Chicago Area chapter in 1970-1971, and was the chairman of AMWA’s 1971 annual meeting, held that year in Chicago. Upon having moved to Maine, and learning there was no New England Chapter of AMWA, he took the initiative to establish one. The group was officially chartered in 1976 and has since become AMWA’s third largest chapter with over 500 members.
He was a freelance writer and author of 15 published books. His first book, “Learning to Cope with Arthritis, Rheumatism, and Gout”, published in 1973, earned him the Beth Fonda Award for Excellence from AMWA’s Greater Chicago Area Chapter. He was also a founder, and first president, of the Nobleboro Historical Society. Another of his books is “Nobleboro, Maine – A History,” which he wrote based on the research of town historian, George F. Dow, who is listed as co-author.
He was also the author of three books for musicals produced by the Lincoln County Community Theater, “Vaudeville Gold” in 1987, “Friends and Lovers” in 1988 and “Folk and Fancy” in 1991. Along with his writing efforts, Mr. Dunbar was also actively involved for two decades in community theater as an actor and singer. From 1984-2004, he performed in more than 40 productions in 11 theaters in nine Maine towns. His community theater affiliations included The Studio Theater of Bath, the Waldo Theatre Players of Waldoboro, the Lincoln County Community Theater, and most recently, the Gaslight Theater of Hallowell.
He was a member of the American Medical Writers Association, the New England Science Writers, The Authors Guild, The Thoreau Society, the Nobleboro Historical Society and the Gaslight Theater of Hallowell.
He is survived by his partner, Thomas W.K. Hanson of Glasgow, Scotland; longtime friend, Chester Halsey-Hill of Gardiner; daughter, Yvette Dunbar of Plymouth Meeting, Penn.; son, Jesse Robert Dunbar and wife Karen of Newtown, Conn.; as well as five grandchildren.
Funeral mass 11 a.m., Sat., April 2 at the St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle. He will be laid to rest with his ancestors in Nobleboro.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
