Robert Temple Faass, Sr.

Robert Temple Faass, Sr., KHS, PE, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather departed this life on February 10^th 2022, at the age of 95.  He was born on August 6, 1926, to the late Anne and Raymond Faass.  He graduated from Washington and Lee High School, Arlington, VA in 1944, and later Princeton University in 1948, receiving his engineering degree and Commission in the United States Naval Reserve (USNR).  He volunteered for active duty during the Korean Conflict serving aboard the USS Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833). He spent over 25 years in the USNR retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR).  With over ten years of government civilian service with the Department of the Navy and later United States Information Agency, he transitioned to the private sector to follow his passion for engineering and historical preservation with Smith and Leethorp Consulting Engineers as a senior electrical engineer.  Smith and Leethorp would later rebrand as Smith and Faass Consulting Engineers when he became a principal of the company.  Bob’s handiwork can be seen in many prominent government and historical buildings in the National Capital Region to include, the White House, Old Executive Office Building, Department of State - C Street, Washington Navy Yard, Monticello and Mount Vernon. In the early 1990’s he retired to self-employment – he never truly retired – writing specifications for the American Institute of Architects.

It was in the early 1950’s when he was introduced to Nancy Susan of Pottstown, PA by his coworker at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Woody Eastman who had previously married Nancy’s sister, Maggie.  Nancy and Bob were married in May, 1953 and were in their 69^th year of marriage having six children of their own, 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.  Bob was a devout Catholic having been a member of Saint Matthias Apostle Church in Lanham, MD since 1963.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Lecturer, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and served as retreat captain on many excursions to the Jesuit administered Loyola on the Potomac, located in a picturesque setting, which he adored, on the banks of the Potomac River in Faulkner, MD.  For his faithful service he was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Archdiocese of Washington.  In 1998 he received the honor of Knighthood in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, one of approximately 30,000 members worldwide.  His faithfulness, service to others and devotion to the Holy Land is recognized in this extraordinary bestowment.

Bob’s sisters: Elizabeth, Norma and Margaret; brothers: Raymond Jr., Donald, Lawrence and David; and son David Lawrence preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother, Raymond (Adrian); his wife, Nancy; his children: Margaret Ann (Charles), Mary Catherine, Robert Temple Jr. (Christina), Benedict Joseph (Wendy) and Michael Andrew (Penelope); grandchildren: Coral, Ariel, Kieran, Nicholas, Andrea, Joanna, Jillian, Christine, Robert III, Timothy, Jenna, Erika and Jakob; great grandchildren: Vivienne, Sonke, Niko, Phoenix and Lincoln for whom all, he has eternal love.

A Requiem Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, 23 February, at St. Matthias Parish, 9475 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD 20706, followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery, 8000 Woodyard Road, Clinton, MD 20735.