Robert Ashbrook MacDowell, II, 72, died on October 23, 2023, after a valiant battle with cancer.
Bob is remembered with so much love by his wife of 50 years, Deborah Siebert MacDowell; his three devoted children, Rebecca Lecaroz (Michael), of Bedford, MA, Megan MacDowell of Williamsburg, VA, and Ryan MacDowell (Gretchen Soelling), of Mercer Island, WA; his adoring granddaughters, Julia and Paige Lecaroz, and Mara MacDowell; his aunt, Joyce Richter; his cousin, Lori Edge (Bob); his mother-in-law, Luciane Siebert; his sister-in-law, Valerie Fields (Frank); and his nephews, Richard, Andrew, Matthew, and Scott Aupperle, and Blair and Brian Dickey. During his life, Bob said goodbye to his parents, Robert and Virginia MacDowell, and his sister, Bonnie Aupperle (Richard).
Bob grew up in Albany, NY, graduating from Guilderland High School in 1969 and going on to Hobart College, where he met his wife, Debbie, a student at William Smith. The two married after graduation in 1973 and had 3 children, whom they raised in Clifton Park, NY, before relocating to Virginia in 2001. Bob, a civil engineer, spent his career building and improving industrial projects, with a focus on water and wastewater treatment plants.
Bob, our beloved “Gentle Giant,” maintained a childlike enthusiasm for all that life had to offer. He played basketball as long as his knees allowed him, he loved amusement parks and the thrill of a good roller coaster, and one of his favorite things to do on a beautiful day was to take a drive in his Mustang with the top down. His children and his grandchildren were his absolute pride and joy, and he attended countless soccer games, basketball games, football games, color guard competitions, dance recitals, and piano recitals, demonstrating his unwavering support of all of their endeavors. As his kids grew up and moved into homes of their own, there was never an improvement project he wouldn’t tackle with them, whether in-person or by remote assistance. He enjoyed sharing a cocktail, playing cards, and sitting by a fire with his loved ones. He never missed a Miami Dolphins game, becoming a devoted fan after a beloved player from his father’s alma mater (Bob Griese of Purdue) was drafted by the Fins.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at Williamsburg United Methodist Church in Williamsburg, VA, on February 17, 2024, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Riverside Foundation, 701 Town Center Drive, Suite 1000, Newport News, VA, 23606, or to the American Cancer Society.
