Obituary of George Roben

George Douglas Roben, 91, died at home with family February 21, 2012 of pulmonary disease. Born in Houlton, Maine on June 19, 1920 to Dr. Walter Brock Roben and Annie Jean Smith Roben, he earned a BS in chemical engineering at the University of Maine, Orono, where he belonged to Kappa Sigma Fraternity and played clarinet in the university swing band and a private band. Serving from 1944-46 in the Army Corps of Engineers, he worked on the Manhattan Project at Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In Oak Ridge he met and married Velma Helen Tindell in 1946 and moved to nearby Knoxville. At the University of Tennessee, he earned a master's degree in chemical engineering and completed coursework for a doctorate. Due to medical bills after his second child's hospitalization, he left school to work for General Electric in Schenectady. Living for one year in Rotterdam, seven years in Colonie, and the rest of his life in Niskayuna, he belonged to St. George's Church and served on the vestry. As an employee at the GE Materials and Processes Laboratory, George earned three patents. He enjoyed volunteering, bowling, golfing, camping, swimming and playing bridge. George's wife of 61 years, Helen, predeceased him in 2007. For a few years, they enjoyed escaping winter and making new friends in the neighborhood and church of their Florida vacation home. Likewise, they looked forward to returning to friends and family up north. Their family was the most important part of their lives. George is survived by two sisters: Muriel McEachern of Greenville Maine and Barbara Ledger (Floyd) of Bangor Maine; five children: Margaret Watrous (Peter) of Duanesburg NY, Dr. G. Brock Roben (Dr. Andrea Belasco) of Swarthmore PA, Matthew A. Roben of Niskayuna NY, Terri Roben (Peter Looker) of Ballston Lake NY, Elizabeth Roben (Normand Chabot) of Ambler PA; daughter-in-law Hope Roben of Niskayuna NY; eight grandchildren: Benjamin Watrous (Nikki) of Greenwich, CT, David Watrous of Schenectady, NY, Zoe Roben of Brooklyn NY, Adam Roben (Caroline) of Chapel Hill NC, Scott Roben of Swarthmore PA, Eva Roben of Swarthmore PA, Caitlin Roben of Crown Heights NY, Miles Roben of Niskayuna NY, and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George's Church, 30 North Ferry Street, Schenectady on March 3 at 12:30 p.m. A reception with refreshments in St. George's Great Hall will follow the service. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Organ Restoration Fund, St. George's Church, 30 North Ferry St., Schenectady, NY 12305-1697 or Community Hospice of Schenectady, 1411 Union St., Schenectady NY 12308