Robert Lovett, who gave 34 years of his career to the fire service including 20 years as the Fire Marshall for the City of Redmond, WA has died on July 12, 2024, at age 75 following a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Robert was the youngest of five children affectionately known as “the sibs” and was born on February 2, 1949, in Portland, Oregon. His father, Harry Scott Lovett, was an accomplished architect, designer, and artist; and his mother, Barbara, lovingly kept the family of seven in order with great enthusiasm and energy and lived to be 101 years old.
Bob’s parents moved to San Mateo, California where he graduated in 1967 from Hillsdale High School. He continued his education at the College of San Mateo, then the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, where he majored in Fine Art.
He returned to San Mateo where he fell in love with Elizabeth “Betty” Poliakevich (Hancock), and they married in early April of 1973. Their wedding was a small, beautiful affair in the chapel at the Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains of central California. Together, they shared in the joy of parenting four kids, including Stephen (whom Betty brought to their relationship, and Bob adopted two years after their marriage), and later they had three of their own together; James, Rebecca, and Mary.
Following their wedding, the young couple moved to Pasadena, California where Bob continued his education at Fuller Theological Seminary. Together with his studies in theology, he honed his skills as an artist, and woodworker and was often found selling his works throughout the region at art fairs. His skills as a jewelry designer, originally learned during studies in Switzerland following high school, were sought after as he designed jewelry and wedding rings for friends, including the design of his own wedding ring a few years earlier. He earned a Master of Theology from Fuller in 1976 and decided to move his family to the Pacific Northwest where they settled in the quaint turn-of-the-century main street town of Bothell, Washington, northeast of Seattle.
Discovering that art wasn’t lucrative and needing to find a job to support the family, Bob responded to a classified ad in the Northshore Citizen newspaper for a position as a fireman. He was a good athlete, an avid skier, accomplished high school wrestler, and outdoorsman; and that served him well for his fire service testing where he showed agility and bravery climbing tall ladders, dragging heavy hoses, and doing other physically demanding drills and tests. Naturally, he was one of the top applicants and landed a job as a firefighter at Station 42 near their home in Bothell. This would begin an unexpected and distinguished career in the fire service. Many described him as the “most over-educated firefighter ever”. An appropriate compliment.
As his career grew, so did his family. Bob and Betty welcomed James to the family in 1978, Rebecca in 1981, and Mary in 1990. With Stephen born in 1967 the Lovett’s had the unique distinction of having four children born in four different decades!
Following five years as a firefighter that included a move to the Redmond Fire Department, Bob transitioned into the Fire Prevention Bureau as a Fire Inspector Investigator. His dedication to the public’s health, safety, and welfare became widely recognized as did his unique leadership qualities. Eventually he became Fire Marshall in 1990, a position he held for twenty years until his retirement in 2011.
Bob was known as a quiet, consistent, kind, and fair leader - and a well-respected mentor. At least five of his employees grew under his leadership and advanced to the position of Fire Marshall in other jurisdictions, something Bob was very proud of. He became one of the most respected leaders in the State of Washington fire service; creating many new codes that have no doubt saved countless lives. Within his field he was honored with numerous awards and was a Founding Member of the Washington State Association of Fire Marshal’s; a Founding Member of King County Zone One Fire Marshal group; and was the first ever recipient of the Washington State Association of Fire Marshal’s Career Achievement Award.
Although he never pursued a career in ministry following Seminary, Bob was a man of strong Christian faith and continued his study and pursued a commitment to serving the Lord. He was a decades-long member of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church in Kirkland, WA serving in many leadership capacities including a member of Session, Scout Troop leader, Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, and more.
The love of family, friends, co-workers, and fellow church members inspired Bob and he loved the many get-togethers, camping trips, and family reunions. His outgoing personality shined during these times, and he’d entertain all as he took on various characters – especially “Marvelous Marvello the Great Magician”. At the time of his passing, Marvello’s magic tricks had yet to work but the laughter and memories of Bob’s act will carry on with all who knew and loved him!
Bob’s family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at the Chateau at Bothell Landing, where they lived from 2015 to early 2024; and the staff and leadership at Bonaventure in Puyallup who cared lovingly for him in his final months; as well as Providence Hospice of Seattle who provided support to Bob and the family over the last weeks of his life. The care and compassion he received was beyond what anyone could expect, and we are grateful. Heartfelt thanks also to Dr. Daniel Burdick, a Neurologist and specialist in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease at Evergreen Hospital for his kind and compassionate care over the past 14-years.
Bob is survived by his wife of 51-years, Elizabeth “Betty” Lovett; children and grandchildren, including Stephen (Teresa) with grandchildren Kayla & Emily; Jim (Cheryl) and grandchildren Bryce, Grant, and Cody; Rebecca (Patrick) McAfee and grandchildren Arianna, Robert, Callia, and Ian; and Mary Lovett; as well as siblings Don Lovett (Glenda), Sandra Walp, Carol Coats (Bill), Gordon “Gordy” Lovett (Karin), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob will be laid to rest not far from his parents and family at the Evergreen-Washelli Cemetary in Seattle. A Memorial Service and celebration of Bob’s life will be held August 10, 2024 at 2:00pm at Rose Hill Church in Kirkland, WA.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to organizations supporting Parkinson’s research.
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