Robert J Baumer

He was born in 1936 to Michael Leo and Anna Baumer at the Baumer family home on Pleasant Street in Lisbon Falls.

Baumer graduated from Lisbon High School in 1954 where he lettered in football, hockey, and baseball. He was offered a baseball scholarship to powerful Rollins College in Florida, but Baumer opted to stay in town, working at the Worumbo Mill and pitching for the Lisbon Falls Merchants until 1959. He also organized a competitive town hockey team.

He also spent a summer pitching in the prestigious Cape Cod League, for the Orleans Cardinals (now the Firebirds).

In December, 1959 Baumer was drafted into the United States Army and stationed at Coleman Kaserne in Gelnhausen, Germany with the 3rd Armored Division. His tour in the Army included the 1961 Cold War exercise, Winter Shield. Baumer also played both baseball and football for the Gelnhausen CCB Braves. In November, 1960, Baumer was an “Honorable Mention” for the 3rd Armored Division football all-star team.

When Baumer was discharged from the Army in 1961, Lisbon no longer had a local baseball team, a rarity in the town’s storied baseball history.

With sponsorship from Robert’s Pharmacy on Main Street in Lisbon Falls, Baumer and baseball friends formed the “Robert’s 88’ers.” The team was a force in the Andy County League against foes like the Turner Townies and the Norway-Paris Twins. Baumer was a dominating left-handed pitcher for over a decade.

In July, 2011, Baumer was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame and true to his high school yearbook motto of “a modest man never talks of himself,” gave perhaps one of the shortest acceptance speeches in Hall of Fame history, clocking in at just under one minute. Like the laconic man he was, Baumer let his left-arm and baseball record do the talking.

To his nieces and nephews, he was an uncle interested in their progress in school, and especially their athletic accomplishments. He could usually be found at a local football, basketball, or baseball game watching his beloved Lisbon Greyhounds compete against their rivals, often with good friend and sidekick, Dave Moulton.

Baumer was also part of the group who formed the Lisbon Junior Athletic League. He coached youth football for several years as well.

Professionally, he drove an oil truck for Morse Brothers Oil Company and Downeast Energy from 1962 until his retirement in 2003.

Baumer was a lifelong member of the Slovak Catholic Club. He was a faithful communicant at Holy Family Church (now Holy Trinity) where he ushered for over 20 years.

Baumer enjoyed spending time in his garden on Pleasant Street, operating his Massey-Ferguson tractor, and cutting wood with his brother Herman on the family property in Topsham.

Bob Baumer was a loyal son, brother, soldier, uncle, neighbor, and worker. He was a generous and kind friend to everyone.

He is survived by his brother Herman Baumer and wife Helen, of Lisbon Falls, a sister Rita Helfen of Bangor, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Reinhold Baumer and Richard Baumer, his sister Anna Rovnak, and nephews Kirk Baumer, Mark Baumer, Max Baumer, Charles Helfen, and Nick Rovnak.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 11, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church on Frost Hill Avenue in Lisbon Falls immediately followed by a committal service at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

You may offer your condolences or share your memories at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com