Planting and harvesting flowers and vegetables was what Robert did so well. He took great pride in maintaining lawns and landscape. Every fall he would be out nearly every day clearing the lawn of leaves for his mom and stepdad and several neighbors. He’d keep doing it until even the oaks dropped their leaves, dressed in a down jacket for warmth. He loved composting and he always looked forward to emptying the composter for the new spring plantings. He was so passionate about composting that he would collect the neighbors’ chewed-up leaves from the street and re-chop them with the mower to speed the composting process. The beauty of the lawn, flowers, shrubs and vegetables he cared for is a tribute to his enthusiasm for gardening.

He was also a faithful waterer, knowing exactly when and how much to water his mother’s 120 house plants!