Robert R. Furman

Robert R. Furman, a builder and developer in the Washington, DC area for over 50 years, died on October 14th at the age of 93 in Adamstown, MD.

Born and raised in Trenton, NJ, he graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Civil Engineering. As a commissioned reserve officer he served in WWII with the Army Corps of Engineers, where he was construction management assistant under General Lesley Groves during the building of the Pentagon. General Groves then selected him to work on the Manhattan Project as a chief liaison between the military and the scientists. He also helped direct efforts to locate and monitor the actions of Axis atomic research, including being deployed to Germany as part of the Alsos Mission. General Groves tasked him to deliver a key component of the atomic bomb to Tinian aboard the USS Indianapolis.

After the war, he opened his construction business in the D.C. area, beginning with residential construction and growing into a well known commercial building and development company.

Furman Builders, Inc. built over 800 commercial and residential projects primarily in the metropolitan area. He was a five year leader in sales for Butler Manufacturing.

A past president of both the Rotary Club of Bethesda and the Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, Bob has made many lasting friends and associates throughout the metropolitan business community.

He and his wife Mary raised four children, Martha, Julia, David and Serena in Bethesda, where they were active at St. John Episcopal Church.

He was president of the Edgemoor Club and Class Agent for his class at Princeton. His love of barbershop music made him a lifelong active member of the D.C. Chapter of SPEBSQA.

They moved to Buckingham's Choice retirement community in Adamstown, MD in 2000, where he continued to manage his holdings, participated in many activities and played tennis through the spring of this year.

He leaves his wife, Mary; Martha Keating of Church Creek, MD; Julia Costello of Mokelumne Hill, CA; David Furman of Kensington, MD; and Serena Furman of Stow, MA. He leaves five grandchildren: Jonas and Matthew Keating; Nathan, Caitlin and Samantha Furman; and a great grandson, Charles Keating. He is survived by his brother, Richard Furman of Trenton, NJ.

Visitation: See above information

Services: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 1 at 11:00 am at Buckingham's Choice, 3200 Bakers Circle, Adamstown, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending donations to the Buckingham's Choice Resident Assistance Fund.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending donations to the Buckingham's Choice Resident Assistance Fund.