in memory of
Robert Lee “Bob” Maase
1.18.1923 - 1.10.2021
Dave and Cindie Ekstrand
Bob lived a long, fruitful life. He was a generous man. Bob set up scholarship funds with the Foundation in honor of each of his three wives. Each was created with a special area in mind. They were education, evangelism, and missions.
He was interested in our children, always asking how they were doing. Beth was the flower girl for his and Leno’s wedding.
Bob was a faithful member of FBCP for many years. He was always willing to share his gifts and talents with the church body. For years he assisted the Foundation with estate planning seminars. He served on many Boards during his time at FBCP.
He will be missed.
Myrna D. Funtecha, Ph.D.
Chaplain Bob Maase was one of those who warmly welcomed my family to First Baptist Church of Pasadena (FBC) when we joined the Church in 1991.
One time when he was Chairman of one of the church committees he nominated me to join that committee where I ended up as the secretary. That first positive experience was rewarding.
In my work in the USA, Chaplain Bob was one of my faithful supporters. In my last educational mission trip to Moscow, Russia, he told me, in essence, to always put my best foot forward in serving God and our country, the USA. He was a good family friend. In 2014 when my late husband needed urgent professional nursing care, Chaplain Bob was instrumental in our immediate move to Atherton Baptist Homes where my late husband got the best skilled nursing care until he passed on.
I moved out of Atherton after my husband passed away, but my children and I regularly visited Chaplain Bob, while he was already in the Skilled Nursing Facilities. We assured him of our constant prayers for him. He was always appreciative of our visits, and would even often pray aloud for me and my children. During the Covid 19 isolation, we could not visit him, but I continued to send him cards and letters. I did not expect him to answer but he would reply. Through his handwritings I could surmise that it was a struggle for him to write those letters.
Chaplain Bob’s Christian friendship (since 1987), generosity, and kindness will be forever cherished by my family.
Bill Douglas
I always considered Bob to be my Pasadena Symphony buddy. Sure, I would see him in church, but it was always special to see him at the Pasadena auditorium. I believe he played trombone and even shared a solo or two in church. Just a good, humble, knowledgeable, kind and God-loving servant..
Brian Duncan
I first met Bob Maase in a fellowship hour at church, and he gave me a cross to carry with me. He said to keep the cross as a simple reminder of the light of Christ. At various church meetings, gatherings, services, and listenings, I sat with Bob and his Wife. We always shared a genuine mutual gratitude to be present and I will miss seeing him. Peace be with FBC. Just as a little candle shines in an unlit room, let us shine the light, giving God the glory....Matthew 5:16
Temna
On October 29, 2017, Bob and I met at the Sunday worship at FBCP and become great friends. Bob was a true guardian angel for me, my wife Asen, and my son Arnon. I never realized that phone conversation on January 1, 2021, would be our last.
Bob, I mourn today that you are gone, but this is not the end; we will see you in the eternal place one day. You will always be remembered as I do God's ministry. Thank you and may you rest in the eternal home.
Picture taken on November 28, 2019 (our last picture together).
Carroll Ropp
Bob Maase was a very friendly man. He would greet me as if we were good friends even though we had never had a conversation. One time he surprised me with a metal cross to put in my pocket. It was engraved with "Jesus is Lord". I thanked him and put it in my coat pocket and went on my way. Several times in winter I will find the cross again when I wear my warm jacket. It always encourages me that God is near. I wear my jacket and feel my cross almost every day lately! I am thankful for Bob's touch in my life.
Grace Jones
Bob Maase has been part of our extended family for over 25 years. He became "Uncle" Bob when he married Peggy Smith, a retired missionary whom he met at Atherton. Peggy was with International Ministries stationed in N. Thailand, when my parents (in the early '70s) were moved to work in Thailand. On the mission field, our parents’ coworkers become honorary Uncles or Aunts, thus, he became one, too.
My family, especially when my parents were visiting Southern California, used to look forward to lunches after church with Bob & Peggy. After she passed away, we continued getting together with Bob, celebrating Thanksgiving and other occasions as well.
Leno, Bob’s third wife, also had a connection to the Jones family dating back to the time our parents worked in NE India. Barbara and Judy were flower girls in Leno’s cousin’s wedding. Many of her relatives were well known to our family, and some even worked with my parents.
During his time at FBCP, Bob was very active in supporting international missions, with special interest in Thailand and NE India. He not only helped to support people in the church (financially and emotionally), but he was a strong pillar of strength and prayer wherever he went. Bob loved singing hymns. Praise be that he is now with his Lord & Savior, praising him with songs of joy.
Jeannette Scholer
Chaplain Maase, as he always signed communications, even his 2020 Christmas letter sent less than a month before his death -- was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ throughout a lifetime of service in which he cherished and fulfilled faithfully the designation of "Chaplain" in every context.
Although our paths first crossed at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1981 when my late husband David became dean of the seminary where Bob was the director of development, we truly got to know each other after David and I came to Pasadena in the mid-90's and Bob was already well established at Atherton and at First Baptist Church of Pasadena. Bob and his wife Peggy welcomed us warmly and entertained us at Atherton, and later went with David on a Holy Land tour that further deepened the connections. A shared firm connection to our denomination in all its facets was a basic denominator in our ongoing relationship.
After I was elected to serve on the board of the Foundation for FBCP, I became aware of Bob's commitment to living out the kind of support through endowed funds which had been a major part of his professional life as a development officer. Bob had sorrows as a three-time widower, walking with each wife on the journey of cancer, but he also transformed that sorrow to the benefit of others through the three endowed memorial scholarship funds he established within the Foundation, so that the memories of these three women would be perpetuated and would provide for scholarships and programs within the context of FBCP that would honor each one's distinctive careers and commitments within the life of Christ's Church.
I was and will continue to be inspired by his generosity, enthusiasm for life and devotion to the Lord. Peace be to his memory.
Cindy Fong-Wong
Charles and I met Bob and Leno shortly after we began attending FBCP. In fact, Leno was part of a book fair describing the missionary work done in her home country and we discovered how Bob and Leno met. Bob was always attentive to moods and concerns of everyone around him. His pastoral experience nurtured a thoughtful and active listener. He was able to convey great empathy and wisdom. Bob gifted us w/ a key chain cross, engraved with the phrase "Jesus is Lord" that was a constant reminder of the need for faithfulness. Bob was a great blessing in our lives.
Billy Lahpai
Bob was a good friend of our family. His wife Peggy was born in Burma, and we always talked about missions in Burma. He will be missed.
Steve Hasper
“Have a significant day,” was how my conversations with Chaplin Maase always ended. As I reflect on his life, it certainly can be said of him that he had a long and significant life of serving his Lord. Although he ministered for many years at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, where I earned a degree, I did not know him when he served there. Rather, I met Bob when I began my ministry at FBCP.
My first recollection of Bob involves his role in promoting a mission. I do not now recall the ministry, but he was advocating for a certain mission project within our church newsletter, “Windows.” That is one characteristic of his that I cherish. He was very concerned and committed to the world wide mission of God. He loved and supported missionaries and their work around the world as they shared the good news and love of Jesus Christ. Bob and Leno were always at any event involving a missionary or mission project. His wife, Leno, traveled with us on a mission trip to Mexicali Seminary where Tim Long serves. She and Bob traveled to Nagaland, her homeland, where she ministered. He faithfully supported her writing about the history there.
My last visit with Bob highlights his consistency of love and faith in Christ Jesus. I sat by his side at Atherton and was greeted with his always warm, welcoming smile, his sincere question as to how I was doing, and his love of prayer. Weakened by age and illness, nevertheless, before my leaving, his hand was extended for a firm handshake, radiant smile, and fond farewell and, “Give my love to Joyce” after I had prayed. Thanks be to God for Chaplin Maase, a life well lived for his savior.
Linda Allsbury
I always knew Bob as a loving, joyful man. Every Sunday as we walked to our seats in the sanctuary, there he would be smiling, giving a hug and a hello, and truly wanting to know how we were all doing and what was happening in our lives. He definitely had a heart for missions and a sincere love for people. I enjoyed working with him on the Missions Board and with special missions events. I learned a lot from all of his experience since I was pretty new at it all. He would frequently remind us that we were in his prayers and we truly appreciated his love and his friendship. We watched him walk through the trial of losing 3 lovely wives, with a strength that could only come from his Lord.
After we moved away in 2005, whenever we could visit, he would always take the time after church to talk and catch up with all that was happening with us and our kids. We treasured his annual Christmas card and letter and cherished his personal notes that he would write. It was a truly awesome gift, that days away from his home going, his 98th birthday, he used his strength and his love to write a letter and a card to us letting us know how to pray for him and how he was praying for us. This was Chaplain Bob's calling and he stayed true to Jesus until the last. We will miss him dearly and look forward to seeing him in heaven. Our love and prayers to his family in their loss here on earth.
John Allsbury
Bob was an example to all who knew him. This man of the Lord tirelessly served without fanfare or a desire for recognition. Always present and ready to help anyone at any time. His example of service inspired me to be a man of God who would reflect the examples Bob lived freely. My friendship with him spanned over forty years. Even after our departure to another state he faithfully stayed in contact. On our visits back to First Baptist he would be one of the first to greet us and take a genuine interest in catching up on our life, the lives of our children, and grandchildren. The Lord truly gave Bob a full and blessed life on this earth. The example for me was that he was serving right up to the end of this earthly life with joy and commitment. I pray daily to be the example to others that Bob was to me. I look forward to the day we will be reunited for eternity.
Carolyn Demcak
I remember Rev., Dr. , Chaplain Robert Maase. He seemed to prefer Chaplain with his name. He must have had a rewarding military life.
I knew all three of his wives who were each special in their own ways. Elda was the Mother of his three children whom he loved. I was at the beautiful wedding of Peggy and Bob. Peggy was so thrilled to finally marry. She was a retired missionary and Bob loved missions. Leno was so sweet and brought her siblings to visit us here at Atherton and First Baptist Church. My friend Ramona Bement lived next door to Bob, and when Leno's sisters came to visit, they stayed with Ramona in her apartment. Ramona still talks about the fun they had like it was a big slumber party. She treasures her pictures of those times.
Bob took a special liking to my daughter and son-in-law, Mark and Nancy Totten, and would ask about them each time we met. Linda Pauloo and I enjoyed visiting him periodically and were always amazed how alert he was in his mind. He always put others first and was a special friend. When I mentioned that Elwood Williams passed on, Bob remarked that "he must be in heaven, dancing with my three wives." His humor and grace endeared him to our family.
Kathleen Victory
To be in the presence of Bob Maase was to feel welcome and known . . . every time.
Mike Victory
After graduating from Fuller, my plans were to be a hospital Chaplin. Bob was my mentor. After a few weeks, God led me into another ministry of kids and drums. But I remember Bob as a wise, patient and kind man. I regret not spending more time with him through the years. He will be missed!
Lindsay Dorman
I only got to know Bob in the last couple of years, but each time I sat with him we had such a special conversation. I remember the first time I ever went to meet him at Atherton, he showed me all of his pictures and the stories behind them. His love for God and for people always came through in every story, and he prayed over me as though we had been friends a long time. He was a special man in that regard—so friendly and relational with everyone he met.
The last time we spoke was a few months ago. I called him to check in, but he could not hear me very well through our connection. He managed to hear me say I would call back later, and he replied, “Whoever you are, please do call again! And God bless you!” That was Bob—whoever you were, he wanted you to be blessed and to always feel encouraged to come back and talk awhile.