Robert J. (Bob) Rainville died February 16, 2023, in South Portland. He was born in Glens Falls, NY on February 24, 1945, son of Edmund and Angela (Carey) Rainville. Bob graduated from Saint Mary's Academy in 1963. He attended Adirondack Community College part-time while working at the Post Star-Times newspaper.

Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 and attended recruit training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. His first assignment as a Navy Journalist Seaman was with Mobile Construction Battalion Eight in Port Hueneme, CA. The battalion deployed to Chu Lai, Vietnam in December 1966. Ensuing tours included Public Affairs staff of Commander Naval Base Subic Bay in the Philippines as coordinator of the People to People Program; headquarters of Commander Military Sealift Command in Washington DC as editor of Sealift Magazine; staff of Commander Navy Recruiting Command as Editor of Navy Recruiter Magazine; Public Affairs office of Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6) at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, CA where he made two summer support deployments to McMurdo Research Station on the Antarctic Continent and was co-editor of "Twenty Years on the Ice", a publication covering the Navy's first 20 Years of Antarctic Support. While in Antarctica he made several visits to the various scientific sites including the South Pole. He also served in the Public Affairs Office on the Staff of Commander Naval District Washington. While at the Washington Navy Yard he attended George Washington University part time and completed requirements for an Associate in Arts Degree from the University of the State of New York at Albany. Ensuing assignments include the staff of the Commander Iceland Defense Force a NATO command in Keflavik, Iceland; Public Affairs Officer for Navy Recruiting District Columbus Ohio; and his final tour of duty in the Navy was on the staff of Commander Naval Base San Francisco on Treasure Island where he retired in 1988 as a Senior Chief Journalist. Among his awards are the Navy Commendation Medal; Navy Achievement Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; and many service ribbons and medals.

Bob and his family relocated to Topsham, Maine where they resided for 25 years before downsizing to a home in South Portland. Bob worked at Treworgy Furniture in Brunswick for five years and was employed at the USDA Processed Products Branch Office in Portland retiring in 2010.

In his retirement years Bob loved to travel with visits to Canada, and 7 cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mediterranean, Bermuda and Hawaii; coach tours to Ireland and Spain; and a river cruise on the Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans.

Bob is a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of The Fleet Reserve Assn.; VXE-6 Assn.; Old Antarctic Explorer Assn. and Navy Public Affairs Assn.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Jacqueline Rainville and Marcia (Rainville) Roberts and one brother William Rainville.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jeannine (Bouchard); two daughters, Cecilia and husband Jeffrey Inman, of South Portland; Elizabeth Rainville of Rockville MD; and two grandchildren, Lucas and Cara Inman of South Portland. He is also survived by one brother, Edmund A. Rainville Jr. of Denver, CO; Two sisters, Jan Landry of Glens Falls, NY and Andrea Allen of Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Visiting hours will be held from 4-7 PM Friday, February 24 ^th at the Hobbs Funeral Home 230 Cottage Road South Portland, Maine 04106. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Saturday February 25 ^th at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 125 Cottage Road South Portland, Maine 04106.

Interment will be in the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Sanford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob's memory to Barbara Bush Children's Hospital.