Robert E. LaMont

Robert E. LaMont, US Army Colonel (Ret.), died in Seattle, Washington, on September 6, 2016, of natural causes. He was 92. Robert was born on May 31, 1924, in Columbus, Ohio to parents Dr. John L. and Marguerite S. LaMonte. His mother remarried, and he accompanied his stepfather Dr. Edward S. Mason on an exchange professorship to Austria and Germany. He attended the Austrian and German public schools and quickly became fluent in German. At the outbreak of World War II in 1942, Robert hastened to enlist and, because of his language ability, he was sent to Europe where he served in the Signal Corps. He participated in the Invasion of Normandy and, with Patton’s Third Army, he was engaged in the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes) and subsequent movement into the Ruhr region of Germany. Robert received his A.B. degree from Harvard University in 1949. While studying there, his love of the outdoors was very much in evidence as he participated in an expedition to Greenland and the Northwest Territories with the U.S. Weather Bureau, and he met his wife Helen while climbing with the Sub Sig Outing Club in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In December of 1950, the two were married in Newton, Massachusetts. Robert was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, and he and Helen spent two years in post-war Germany. Following their return to the U.S., he earned his Master’s degree in geography at Boston University. Robert spent much of his career working at Ft. Belvoir and the Pentagon in military intelligence research and operations, and in research and development with the Army Corps of Engineers. Among the schools he attended are the Army Engineer School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He was a registered Professional Engineer, and he spent 35 years in the Army Reserve. Robert was an avid collector and bibliophile, and had wide-ranging interests and expertise in military history, railroads, cartography, photography, cultural studies, and genealogy, among many others. In retirement, he traveled extensively with his wife, visiting all continents, many of them repeatedly. He held memberships in a large number of historical, archeological, scientific, and military organizations, and he volunteered his time freely to such organizations as the American Red Cross, the United Service Organizations (USO), the Boy Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and most recently, the Centennial Amtrak Station in Lacey. Robert enjoyed and participated in intelligent discussions of both historical and current events. Despite the many medical conditions of his later years, he maintained a ready smile and a positive and cheerful attitude; he quickly became a favorite with his nurses and doctors. He was a devoted husband and father, and an engaging and knowledgeable presence wherever he went. He will be deeply missed. Robert is survived by his wife, Helen P. LaMont; his half-siblings, Edward H. L. Mason and Jane Manasse; his children, Susan T. LaMont and Donald LaMont; one grandchild; three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Please leave memories of Robert or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.