Obituary of Robert B. Puffer

PUFFER ROBERT "PUFF" "There are no strangers, only friends we haven't met yet". Puff passed peacefully, yet suddenly away on January 21. Predeceased by parents Herbert and Emma, brother Jack, and infant sister Ruth. Served honorably in the US Air Force during the Korean War. Left with fondest memories of his former wife and friend Dorothy, sons Christopher and Toby, daughter-in-law Gesthimani, loving grandchildren Katerina Sophia, and Alexi Robert. Also his loving dog, Molly. At his request, cremation has taken place. Puff spent 45 years at "Fords" and had Ford blue blood in his veins. He remains a world-renowned photographer, mostly of rare automobiles. A Celebration of His Life will take place on Saturday, February 2, from 12-4 p.m. at the Historic Dearborn Inn. Donations in lieu of flowers to The Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude's Children Hospital. From the Puffer family to all that knew Puff: They say a problem shared is a problem cut in half. One would think the same applies to sadness. As we all cope with this sudden loss of one of the kindest, gentlest, most talented and creative guys that ever lived, let's all get together at the Dearborn Inn on February 2, and cut this sadness up into pieces so small they'd slip past a HEPA filter. Puff is up there right now telling us something like "Don't you dare shed another tear. I lived my life, now you all go out and live yours." Puff outlived his father and only brother by nearly 30 years. He would have been 80 on St Patty's day...so he was into the bonus years for some time. Find comfort knowing he passed in his sleep, with his loving dog Molly nearby. His spirit was rock solid, and in spite of very limited mobility, recent numerous removals of skin cancer spots that were more of pain in the rear than life-threatening, we never once heard him complain. Nor do any of us recall Puff saying a bad word about another. He kept a daily diary of sorts, and we came across a notation from decades ago that read "Hurricane snow conditions, car stuck in driveway, walked to work." They don't make 'em like that anymore. We now recognize some of what made Puff so special. First, he always, always treated people he met better than they expected. From top to bottom, whether it was a cashier at Kroger, or a CEO. For that reason, people went quickly past the "like" phase, and directly into the love. Too, Puff had figured out somewhere along the way that if you love what you have, and don't worry about what you don't have, ya got it licked. The man was much wiser than most of us realized... We are doing our best to put together a Celebartion of a Life to be held at the Historic Dearborn Inn on February 2 from 12--4pm. This will NOT be a funeral service although there will be plenty of tissue on hand. Hundreds of Puff's color photo images will be on display ranging from 6" x 6" to 3' x 4'. Only now do we realize that by taking a moment to look at Puff's images, we can, forever, also stop and look through the eye of one pretty special man, and be privledged to do so. We are encouraging those that attend to grab the mic and share a story, a laugh, or a tear. There will be no set schedule for speeches or readings. Please join us. Also please take a minute to sign "Puff's" guestbook and share a thought or memory.