Robert Morris Corum Obituary (1956 - 2023)

Robert Morris Corum 1956 - 2023 RANDOLPH - Robert (Bob) Corum passed away on November 19, 2023, after a long battle with COPD. Bob was born September 23, 1956, in Ft. Lee, Virginia, the third son, after Michael and Patrick, of Robert and Hildred Corum. Inquisitive, he learned to read at an early age and was fascinated by history. He was studious, which led to his selection to the National Honor Society. Bob graduated in the top ten from Gardiner Area High School in 1974. College never agreed with Bob, so he left UMaine after one semester and proudly joined the Air Force, where he was a Basic Training and Technical School Honor Grad. As an Honor Grad, he was offered an assignment to the White House Communications Agency as a Secure Communications Specialist. He refused this assignment and was instead assigned to McClellan AFB in Sacramento doing numerous secure communication equipment installations in the western and northwestern U.S. (California, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska), Europe (England, France, Germany, Italy), and the Canadian Arctic. This assignment required over 300 days a year on the road and in planes, but he loved it. He was awarded the USAF Good Conduct Medal and USAF Commendation Medal for helping to design the cabling infrastructure at the new Combat Operations Intelligence Center, Ramstein AB, FRG. He was then sent to Germany to be part of NATO Kindsbach Underground Facility, Combat HQ, 4th Allied Tactical AF, 1141 Special Activity Squadron. While there, he re-wrote a NATO maintenance manual for British encryption equipment and was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. During leave, he skied multiple slopes throughout the Alps. On one particular six-mile ski trail, he had to take his passport as the trail started in Switzerland and ended in Italy. His next assignment was Wurtsmith AFB, MI, where he was NCO supervisor for four work centers (TTY, Cryptographic, Base Weather Systems, and Base Intrusion Security System). Due to his performance, he was awarded the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter twice and was nominated for the Meritorious Service Medal, the highest peacetime medal award. After leaving the USAF, he worked as a DoD civilian contractor and was lead foreman in charge of the secure data cabling and fiber installations for Halifax Engineering at the new Defense Intelligence Agency building at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. Upon returning to Maine, Bob got a job working on the State of Maine’s state-wide computer communications network where he worked for 33 years until his retirement in 2016. He was made manager and led the network through numerous technology upgrades. He eventually rose to State Infrastructure Architect designing networks, hardware systems, and IT platforms for various state agencies. In August of 1984, he married his lovely wife of many years, Doreen, and together they raised two wonderful sons. Their oldest, Joshua, graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Joshua has worked as a structural engineer for the past 15 years and currently lives in Cranston, RI. Their youngest, Tyler, graduated from Thomas College/USM with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is a current podcaster living in Troy, NY with his wife, Kate, and newborn twin sons Christopher and Matthew. Raising the boys, Bob coached tee ball, farm league baseball, and youth basketball. He was also involved with the Cub Scouts, becoming a leader of Cub Scout Pack 601 in the Randolph-Pittston-Farmingdale area and enjoyed many campouts with his sons. He taught Josh bowling and loved taking Josh around the U.S. (Dallas, Indianapolis, Ft. Lauderdale, Buffalo) for youth bowling tournaments. He introduced Ty to golf, fishing, and home repair. They had many great times fishing together and many memorable times bickering over the best way to fix things around the house. After his family, his favorite things were his dogs, softball, bowling, golfing, skiing, and watching NASCAR, travelling the state from Houlton to Sanford playing on many softball tournament teams and making yearly pilgrimages to Loudon for NASCAR weekend. He also loved the simple life, enjoying working in his garden or just sitting quietly and peacefully on the front steps in the shade with his dog, a cold beer in hand, watching the world pass by. He will be particularly remembered for his easygoing nature and was always quick to laugh, smile, and crack a joke. Bob was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife, sons, two grandsons, and brothers. Per his wishes, there will be no funeral service. An informal celebration of life gathering will occur at a future date to be determined. Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, www.staplesfuneralhome.com