VERO BEACH – Robert A. Bauer was born on December 31, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois and had been a resident of Vero Beach since 1980, moving here from Lakeville, Massachusetts.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served in every enlisted grade, Private through Master Sergeant, and then attended Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Medical Service Corps and retired in September 1969 as a Major, Medical Service Corps, United States Air Force with over 21 years of active military service.
During the Korean conflict, he was assigned as First Sergeant/Sergeant Major of the 6351st Medical Squadron, Naha Air Base, Okinawa. During the Vietnam war, he was a Captain and served as Executive Officer to the Surgeon, Second Air Division, and Executive Officer of the 33d USAF Dispensary, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon.
Following his retirement, he was the Associate Director of the Bureau of Health Facilities, Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts and then took a position as the Vice President, Administration and Personnel, of Massachusetts (now Spaulding) Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston. During this period, he served as the government-appointed member of the Board of Nursing Home Administrators for Massachusetts. He was a member, and President of the United Health Association of Massachusetts; a member of the American Hospital Association; a Diplomate of the American Academy of Medical Administrators; a member of the American Society of Personnel Administration and a member of the Massachusetts Hospital Personnel Directors Association. He was the Charter Vice President of the Rotary Club of Middleboro Massachusetts and the second President of that Club.
Since coming to Vero Beach, he served as a dispatcher for the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad; President of the Poinciana area, Village Green, and President of the Village Green East Homeowners Association. He was a member and Past President of the Retired Officers Association of Indian River County. He also taught woodcarving to over 150 residents of Indian River County during the period from 1981 to 1995.
His wife, Evelyn predeceased him on April 2, 2013. He is survived by his life partner, Mary Ann Roussin whose devoted, exceptional and dedicated care helped carry him through his last days. His children and their spouses, Michael and Jeanne Bauer, Susan O’Toole-Evans and Chuck Evans, Steve Bauer and Annemarie Glanzmann, Janet and Gary Bissonnette; three brothers, Dan, John and Jim Bauer and many, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
