PORTLAND – Robert “Bob” D. Peck, 90, of Yarmouth, passed away on Aug. 10.

He was the son of Harry Dexter Peck and Carolyn Ford Peck, of Sharon, Mass., and Providence, R.I.. He was born in Framingham, Mass. on May 29, 1922. His early life was in Sharon, where he attended his first nine years in public schools, followed by three years and graduation in 1940 at Moses Brown School of Providence, R.I. He then went to MIT, as his father had. 

He enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1942 and was called to active duty in April 1943. After World War II, he returned to MIT, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1947. He was employed for a short time in an executive training program at American Car and Foundry, and then worked for 12 years at Johns Manville Corporation in Boston. He then became chairman of Asbestos Construction Corp., the New York City-area independent entity franchised for sales and installation of Johns Manville industrial insulation products.

In 1960, Asbestos Corporation was sold to Johns Manville, and Peck returned to the Boston area where he started Controlled Environment Corporation, the first company to offer turnkey construction of the new concept of cleanrooms for space, electronic, medical, and other industries. The company’s successor continues today in Maine, having been sold in 2002 by Peck’s son and successor, Matthew Peck. 

Peck was respected as a pioneer in the concepts of cleanroom technology and over many years held various positions in the technical societies. He was an early recipient of the Clean Rooms Hall of Fame, and was also a member of ASME, ASHRRE, VFW, the American Legion, and the Society of Mayflower Descendants. He was also very proud to be an Eagle Boy Scout.

Peck was also active in non-business activities, including in Needham, Mass., where he lived for more than 20 years. He was a representative on the elective town meeting, chairman of the adult education committee, manager of three Little League baseball teams, and a leader in the Boy Scouts. After moving to Maine in 1983, his activities included president of the Maine MIT Club, board member of the Preble Street Resource Center, treasurer of the Casco Bay Power Squadron, chairman of his 50th class of Moses Brown School reunion, the Reseed Project of University Southern Maine and board member of the Hitinowa Council of the Campfire Boys and Girls of Maine.

He often expressed his deep feeling that his greatest success, pleasure, and pride was his children, their spouses, and their children which resulted from a wonderful marriage to an unusual and marvelous wife Nancy – all of whom have gone on to lead successful lives each giving back to their communities. 

Peck is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Nancy Hill Peck, of Yarmouth;  sons Stephen Hill Peck and his wife, Jacqueline Bates Peck, of Needham and Wings Neck, Mass.; Matthew Ford Peck and his wife, Kimberly Kress Peck, of Windham and Sugarloaf; his daughter, Susan Edwards Peck and husband, Philip M. Coffin, III, of Portland and Carrabassett Valley; grandchildren Rachel Coffin, Julia Coffin, Emma Coffin, Samuel Peck, Katherine Peck, and Elizabeth Peck; a sister, Lyn Kenyon, of Chatham, Mass., and Naples, Fla.; and a brother, Randy Peck, of Needham, Mass. 

A memorial service will be held Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane in Yarmouth.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Moses Brown School Fund at http://www.mosesbrown.org/mosesbrownfund or Preble Street Resource Center http://www.preblestreet.org/donate.php.

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Robert D. Peck