Robert Massey

Robert A. Massey (“Rob” & “PopPop”), 85, of New Market, Maryland, passed from this life very peacefully on Friday, July 7, 2017 at his home.  He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Pauline (Leclerc), and his six children:  Curtis Massey (Kathy) of West Chester, PA; Susan Hammond (Steve) of Leesburg, VA; Cheryl Burdette of Frederick, MD; Nadine Rafaels (Raymond) of Fairfax, VA; Lisa Maruca (James) of Ijamsville, MD; and Carol Beachy (John) of Medford, NJ; as well as his 20 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his oldest son Kenneth Massey, his sisters and their husbands Elizabeth and Robert Snyder and Lillian and Casimer Stevens and his parents.

Born on March 20, 1932, in Cleveland, OH, he was the son of the late Anton John Massey and Katherine (Grossman) Massey.  Robert earned his B.S. and Master’s degree in Education from Springfield College in 1954 and 1955 and a 2nd Master’s degree in Hospital Administration from Baylor University in 1967.

He attended Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA and was commissioned a 2LT, U.S. Army in January 1957.  He served in many capacities (infantry, airman, education, hospital administration) and locations including tours in Livorno, Italy and as Executive Officer of a M.U.S.T unit in Vietnam in 1967-1968.  He concluded his Army career with assignments at Ft. Detrick, Frederick, MD and Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, DC where he was actively involved with the research community and hospital administration. During his military career, he earned numerous awards, most notably, the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal – 2 Awards.

Following military retirement in 1976, he served over 12 years as Senior Vice President for Providence Hospital in Washington, DC before finally retiring so he could focus entirely on his wife and very large family.  PopPop was the epitome of a gentleman and a true Patriot.  He always acted with honesty and integrity, and instilled all his children and grandchildren with a sense of pride in education and accomplishment.  He will be truly missed by everyone he touched.

The family will receive friends at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD on Thursday, July 13, 2017 from 4-7 pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Friday, July 14, 2017, at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 4103 Prices Distillery Road in Ijamsville, MD.  Life-long friend, Father Raymond Collins, C.Ss.R. of National Shrine of St. John Neumann Center, Philadelphia, PA, will officiate the mass.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Myositis Association, myositis.org, or 800-821-7356.