Robert Joseph Werrlein

Robert (Bob) Joseph Werrlein (age 85) passed at his home on 29 May 2023. Born on 14 December 1937 in Essex, New Jersey, Bob graduated from Hobart University (1959) and received a PhD in microbiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. While at Hobart University, Bob captained the men’s lacrosse team where he was selected to play in the North-South game during his senior season.
 
On May 18, 1963, Bob married Ann Moore (1939-2020), a graduate of the University of Connecticut who at the time was employed as a staff counselor at the YWCA in Montclair, New Jersey.  Bob and Ann raised three children: Stephen David and twins, Elizabeth Ann and Susan Eileen.
 
Bob worked as a Cell Biologist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, DC and after receiving his Ph. D, he moved his family to Bristol, England where he was a lecturer and research fellow at the University of Bristol Medical School. During the next 8 years, Bob enjoyed making new friends that would last a lifetime, taking long walks across the countryside with his favorite dog, Rambeaux, and traveling with his family extensively across the UK and Europe.   
 
In 1983, Bob returned with the family to the U.S. and settled in Harford County where he took the position as a Principal Investigator at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood, MD.  In addition to his wife and family, Bob’s greatest love was the outdoors.  Known as “Dr. Bob” to many, he served as president of the Harford Bird Club (where he was recognized as Birder of the Year) and was a volunteer of the bird banding crew at Eden Mill.  He was well known by family and neighbors for feeding the hundreds of local and migrating birds that visited his backyard feeders on a daily basis.  His passion for nature led him on many adventures across the US and around the world including some favorite trips to the Amazon, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands. 
 
Bob was an active parishioner at St. Ignatius Catholic Church and held leadership positions with the local Knights of Columbus chapter.  Bob also took up the game of golf later in life and enjoyed playing at many local courses in the area with his large group of golfing friends as well as annual trips to Myrtle Beach.
 
He is survived by his loving children - son Stephen and his family: wife Debra, son Connor, and daughter Claire; by daughter Susan Farley and her family: husband Peter, son Keegan, daughters MacKenzie and Emma; by daughter Elizabeth Ketterman and her family: son Joshua, daughters Sarah and Katelyn.

Those who desire may contribute to The Harford Land Trust, In Honor of Robert Werrlein, 22 West Pennsylvania Avenue #2, Bel Air Md 21014, (410) 836-2103 GIVE – Harford Land Trust  or to the Harford Bird Club, 1000 Barclay Place, Bel Air, MD 21014 The Harford Bird Club - Maryland Ornithological Society