Robert P. Govier

Robert P. Govier 8 April 1929 - 14 May 2024 The son of European immigrants Percy Govier and Emily Samek (Emilie Samkova), Robert Govier was born and raised in the City of New York, where he resided for 92 of his 95 years. Growing up in the Manhattanville section of West Harlem during the Great Depression under somewhat hardscrabble conditions, Robert attended PS43, and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where his parents were parishioners. Later, during the more prosperous war years, the family moved up to Washington Heights where he attended PS115. A graduate of George Washington High School, he served as a corporal in the Army Corp of Engineers during the Korean conflict, an experience that well could be deemed ‘life defining’. Having had met his future bride at church, and public school, Robert married Maria Anos in February of 1952, while home on leave from boot camp. While not deployed to Korea, he spent his time in the service fighting forest fires in Northern California and in the expansion of Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. Upon his return from the Army, the newlyweds Bob & Maria settled in the Fort Washington section of Washington Heights (now known as ‘Hudson Heights’), residing in the same walk-up apartment building for 69 years. There, he and Maria brought 2 children into the world: Glenn in 1957 and Cliff in 1959. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Robert went to trade school and became an architectural draftsman, the profession in which he remained for over 40 years. Working for the Charles F. Noyes company (later Helmsley-Noyes), he was employed by the firm for virtually his entire professional career. Retiring in 1996, Bob and Maria split their time between their NYC apartment and their vacation homes in Duck Harbor PA and Bradenton FL. Since his wife Maria’s passing in 2021, Robert has resided at The Arbors East Assisted Living in Islandia NY. Living though one of history’s most turbulent and yet amazing times, Robert ‘Bob’ Govier was a decent, honest, hardworking man with humble roots and a great sense of integrity. One would be hard pressed to find a more incredibly devoted husband, father and son/son-in-law. Quiet by nature, he had a wicked, wry sense of humor, and, like many of his Govier kin, he was an inveterate teaser. Though a Freemason in his early years like his father, he was not a ‘joiner’ and did not participate in social organizations/events, generally preferring the company of his extended family and close friends. Bob was incredibly mechanically minded, which served him well in his role as an architectural draftsman. A true craftsman, he was very much a believer in the ethos ‘do it right or don’t do it at all’. Though disparagingly calling himself a ‘half-assed carpenter’ (a trade that he learned while serving in the Army Corps of Engineers), he put this talent to great use by building a plethora of closets and cubbyholes in his and Maria’s Washington Heights apartments, as well as making small improvements on their vacation homes in Pennsylvania and Florida. In middle age, Bob developed a fascination with clocks, assembling wooden clock kits as gifts for friends and family. However, photography was his prime passion, as he filled countless family albums with his pictures over the years. Though he managed to produce two musicians, Bob himself did not possess much by way of musical talent, claiming that he ‘played the radio’. That said, he developed an appreciation for opera and he and Maria had subscription seats at the Met for several years. Bob was neither a sports fan nor an athlete. However, he very much enjoyed watching golf and had great respect for the game, though the closest he got to playing it were the putt-putt courses on the boardwalk at Asbury Park. Early on, many good memories were made on day trips to Peach Lake in Putnam County NY (Govier family) and summer vacations spent on the beach at Ocean Grove NJ (Anos family). But most of all, Bob best enjoyed the time spent with the family at the PA Lake House and their Florida residence. A man who earned the love and respect of many, he will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. Robert is survived his son Glenn Govier and daughter-in-law, Marian Mastrorilli of Huntington NY; his daughter-in-law, Monique Daniel and his grandchildren, Joshua & Sarah Govier of Hastings-on-Hudson NY. He is preceded in death by his parents Percy and Emily, his brother Henry Ronald, his wife Maria, his son, Cliff Govier, and Brenda Stahl, his daughter-in-law from his son Glenn’s prior marriage. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes to request that you please make a donation to Habitat for Humanity https://habitatsuffolk.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate or a well-qualified Veteran’s charitable organization (Homes For Our Troops https://support.hfotusa.org/site/Donation2, AMVETS https://web.charityengine.net/amvets-support-us, Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust https://help.dav.org/page/52572/donate/ ). The family thanks all who have expressed their kind thoughts and sympathies. Bob has been released from his pain and infirmities, and is now finally at peace. Glenn Govier & Marian Mastrorilli

Robert P. Govier

April 8, 1929 - May 14, 2024