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Robert Gray Lovell

RANCHO BERNARDO, Calf. — Robert Gray Lovell of Rancho Bernardo, California, died peacefully at home on July 29, 2020, of complications from Prostate Cancer at the age of 95. Robert was born August 10, 1924, in Hubbell, Michigan and was the youngest of three sons of Endicott R. and Martha (MacNaughton) Lovell, formerly of Hubbell and Calumet, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mr. Lovell attended elementary, junior high and high school in the Lake Linden-Hubbell public school district and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1943. He graduated from Michigan Technological University in Houghton in 1950 with a BS in metallurgical engineering. He continued post-graduate studies in business administration at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University. He was a member of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity, Alpha Sigma Mu Honorary Metallurgical Fraternity, and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He was inducted into the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, having earned six letters in four sports (Track, Tennis, Swimming and Skiing) during his collegiate career, and was Trustee of College Hockey’s MacNaughton Cup.

Robert Lovell served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II. His two older brother, Endicott and James, were both killed during that same conflict.

During a 36 year professional career, Mr Lovell worked for Revere Copper & Brass, Reynolds Metals Company, and Continental Illinois Bank of Chicago, later known as Bank of America Illinois. Among his professional memberships and awards were American Economic Development Council, Mid-America Economic Development Council (Past President-1976), and Illinois Development Council Honorary Life Member. He retired in 1986 and moved to San Diego.

Personal memberships included Michigan Tech Alumni Association, Houghton County Historical Society, San Diego Aerospace Museum, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Carrier Midway Museum, Zoological Society of San Diego, and the United States Tennis Association. Mr. Lovell was an avid tennis player and was nationally ranked in Boys Doubles at 15, and was also the Michigan slalom ski champion as a teenager.

Mr. Lovell was previously married to, and preceded in death by Ann Haymaker Lovell, Joan Geary, and Marjorie Gaff. He is survived by two daughters, Patricia Lovell (Shae Blankenship) of Dallas, Texas, Nancy Lovell Hall of Williams, Arizona, and daughter-in-law Sue Lovell of Kewadin. Mr. Lovell had a son, Robert Jr., who died in 2012. He is also survived by two grandsons, Endicott Lovell III and James Lovell II, as well as two great-granddaughters.

Mr. Lovell’s ashes will be buried alongside the graves of his two beloved brothers in the MacNaughton/Lovell plot in Lake View Cemetery in Calumet, Michigan.

A family gathering is planned in Houghton and Calumet. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Best Friends Animal Society, and Honor Flight.