Robert William Brogle's Obituary
Robert W. "Bob" Brogle, 92, of Mount Dora, FL died May 3, 2025 after a brief cancer diagnosis. He was the son of Frank E. and Reina Tatro Brogle.
He was a graduate of the Holyoke High School Class of 1950, Wentworth University Class of 1952, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1958. During the Korean conflict, he served a two year stint in the US Army Signal Corps 1952-1954 in the Philippines. In 1958, he became a high voltage engineer at Central Hudson Gas & Electric in Poughkeepsie, NY. In 1960 and only 28 yrs. old, he became President of Frank E. Brogle & Sons Inc. until its closure in 1977. In 1969, his entrepreneurial spirit started Control Products Inc. in Holyoke. CPI was the first company in the US to take off the shelf electrical components and marry them to a package serving specific wastewater treatment customers. In 1973, he was chairman of the very successful RPI 50 Million dollar fundraising campaign. From 1981- 1984, he was an electrical engineer for Tighe & Bond in Westfield, MA and from 1985 – 1990, he was principal electrical engineer for Combustion Engineering/ABB Resource Recovery Systems in Windsor, CT., focusing on waste to energy plants. He lived in Hawaii from 1990 to 1992, and became vice president of Mid Pac Electric, overseeing construction of a cogeneration plant at Kapolei. In 1992 – 2004, when he retired, he was principal electrical engineer for the Dennis Group in Springfield, MA, which specializes in construction of food service manufacturing facilities around the country.
Bob's passions were trains, trolleys and working hard. As a kid and young adult, he was an avid model railroader. In 1978, he became involved with full size trains and the MassCentral Railroad in Palmer, MA. From 1979 to 1995, he was brakeman, flagman, conductor, treasurer, and Chairman. He also loved to travel and cruise, making many trips to Ireland.
When Bob “retired” from his professional career and moved to Mount Dora, FL, he put his vast skillset to work as the Board President of Southern Oaks Condominium Association for fourteen years. Bob’s countless volunteer hours of diligence and ingenuity enriched just about every facet of SOCA’s property. Bob was a perfectionist, which was always evident with his end product. He has left his distinctive print on countless remodeling/construction projects and in the memories of those he worked with, taught, supported and loved. Bob would want you to remember two things, “if you’re going to do it, do it right or don’t to it at all”, and, “Bob is always right”.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, as well as his brother Howard and sister Betty Greiss. He was also predeceased by his first wife, Isabelle Theresa Ross.
He leaves his daughters Elizabeth of Holyoke, MA, Lori of Westhampton, MA, and Amy Hoagland and her husband Tim of Mount Dora, FL. He also leaves his son Robert and fiancé Desiree Hegedus of Westfield, MA, his grandson Garrett Lemieux of Holyoke, MA, his granddaughter Isabella Brogle and her husband Alex Norton of South Portland, ME, and his great grandson Levi. He also leaves his wife of 43 years, Eileen McDonnell and her 5 children.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's memory made be made to Connecticut Trolley Museum/CERA, PO Box 360, East Windsor, CT 06088, https://www.ct-trolley.org/.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Tuesday, 7/29/25 at 1pm, Church of Christ, 1801 N. Donnelly Street, Mt. Dora, FL 32757.
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