Robert A. Deschamps

On December 20, 2024, Robert “Bob” A. Deschamps of Westbrook, ME passed away at the age of 73 after a short illness. Bob was the son of Fernand and Blanche Dechamps (both deceased) and lived with them until he was 9 years old. He and his mother had a very close bond that continued thru his 30’s when she passed away. He was accepted into Pineland Center where he resided until the early 1990’s when he was brought into the care of Spurwink Services where he resided until his death. Bob had MANY amazing, caring staff over the years he lived with Spurwink. Over the last 17 years Deanna and Jennifer, “house parents” cared for him daily. Keith over the past 15 years provided regular “respite care”. Since covid began, Coleman spent almost every day with helping him with his day-to-day activities and daily living. Before Covid Bob attended a day treatment program the entire time he was with Spurwink. He loved to get in the van and go to spend the day M-F with his peers and staff, many of which he had spent over 25 years with. Paul who runs the day program he attended had worked with Bob the entire time and helped him settle in from the very beginning. Bob always preferred to be around staff and peers. He also enjoyed getting to know staff’s family over the years including his current “house parent’s” 13-year-old son who he has watched grow up. Bob could always be found with a plastic toy of some kind in his hand. Most recently a toy dinosaur but others have included “sandcastle” buckets, Frisbie, canteen and a plastic piggy bank. The toys were always green in color and so were 95% of his clothing. Bob enjoyed horseback riding for many years through a Therapeutic riding program. He loved to bowl, often winning against peers and staff. He loved to relax in his rocking recliner and survey what everyone else in the house was doing, esp. if they were in the kitchen. He loved to go shopping, go for rides, go out to eat, especially seafood. He also loved to spend time in the water, wanting buckets of water poured over his head, preferably by someone else but he would do it if need be. If Bob had no plans to be out of the house, he would keep his slippers on, relax and take naps on and off in his recliner in the living room. He loved Cheez-its and Diet Pepsi and any chance he got he would lead a person’s hand to grab these items. His other favorite love was peanut butter, and he didn’t care how it was presented, and he never grew tired of it. Despite being deaf, mute and having very limited communication his whole life, he always seemed to have the ability to understand a lot of what was going on and laugh at all the right times during conversations going on around him. He was great at being able to keep track of time even without learning how to tell time. He loved his routines especially those involving picking out what to wear for the day (99% of the time green in color) and picking out his pjs for bed. A huge hole in his home and in the hearts of people who knew him has been made and he and all the stories he is in will never be forgotten.

Robert A. Deschamps

May 9, 1951 - December 20, 2024

Explore Tributes &
Upcoming Services