Robert Santin - Obituary

obert Louis Santin, 78, died January 20, 2014, after a brief illness at home with his family. Born on February 17, 1935 in Clifton, NJ to the late Victor and Mary Santin, Bob graduated from the Stevens Institute of Technology in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He began his career working for the General Electric Company in Syracuse, NY designing jet engines. Later, while working for Chesapeake Instrument Corporation in Shady Side, MD he led the mechanical design and development of three AN/SQR-14 and seven AN/SQR-15 towed array passive sonar systems which were used by the Navy to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War. Throughout his career he continued developing these sonar systems that are still in use today. After the company was acquired by Gould, Inc., he was promoted to Vice President of Engineering, and later to Vice President of Business Development. Lockheed Martin acquired Gould Inc, from which Bob retired in 1995. In 1965 Bob married Joan Montgomery in Annapolis, MD where they lived in the community of Anchorage and raised their five children. In 2004 they relocated to Florida where he became an avid golfer, an accomplished painter, and frequent traveler with Joan and his family. He is survived by his wife, Joan; his children, Mike, Dan, Beth, Rob, and Amy, and their families including 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to Bob’s Life Celebration from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm on Friday, January 24 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater where his funeral service will be held at 6pm on Saturday, January 25. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of the United States. Online condolences may be posted by clicking the link above.