Body of Rev. Bob Carlson of Bangor Found in Penobscot River

That's a shame. I've been to at least two funerals where Bob spoke; he seemed to be very personable and well liked.

This is a very sad end for this man. I knew Rev. Bob, first of all, through his frequent appearances on WVOM with George Hale and Ric Tyler's weekly feature, "The God Squad." More recently I got to know Rev. Bob in person at Bangor GOP Committee meetings, then at the State House, where Rev. Bob was a presence during debates on bills and issues -- mostly, I think, on health care.

Rev. Bob was a nice guy. If memory serves, before he was a minister he was a police officer. In both capacities he dealt, no doubt, with less than the best humanity has to offer. That's not an excuse. Like so many people, I'm sure, I'm trying to understand the "why."

R.I.P. Rev. Bob.

Best,
skf

I am so sorry for his loss, Scott. I feared the worst when reading the article, although I was hopeful he might have had an accident... I am so sorry for his family, friends and his congregation.
:(

You're hinting around some background to this story.....can you shed any light on it?

Rev. Bob's bio from the Penobscot County Health Center Website

Rev. Robert Carlson, President

Rev. Robert T. Carlson has been very involved in healthcare in Maine for many years. He came to Maine in 1970 and worked in the state mental health system and developed the first statutory Office of Advocacy for Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Corrections. As Chief Advocate he was instrumental in developing a standard of care to insure individual treatment planning for all institutionalized Maine citizens. The Pineland Hospital consent decree was a result of this effort and all state institutions were opened to community care. While serving as a Trustee and a member of the Executive Committee of St. Joseph Hospital he was instrumental in fostering the development of Penobscot Community Health Care. After assisting in securing its initial funding Rev. Carlson became a member of the Board of PCHC and served as its Chairman during the early years. He serves currently as its President and has responsibilities for building collaborative partnerships with other healthcare entities in the community and serves as its Corporate Compliance Officer. He has served on numerous community boards and continues as Chaplain to the Law Enforcement community. He is President of Maine Primary Care Association.

####

In the Bangor Daily News story the Waldo County Sheriffs Dept said that it looked like he jumped from the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.

This is such a very sad ending to a life that had so much to give.

Like Scott said, we are left to wonder about the "why".

I offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends.

WC

A suicide at this point in his life does beg the question why. As we all know from past experience, the public face of an individual is sometimes very different from the actions of the private person. I hope that there is nothing to tarnish a life time of service. Sometimes things just have no answer.

God Bless his family.

Al

One other thought. Rev Bob was very overweight. Maybe that bridge was a place he liked to go to think. And maybe while there his heart gave out and he fell. Plausible.

skf

Channel 5 led the five o'clock broadcast with the news that there was an investigation of Carlson recently started based on a letter sent to law enforcement - state police? The investigation is still active. No further details were given.

Al

.....An Alton woman said Monday that she and several of her family members were contacted by state police detectives on Saturday and interviewed about a child abuse case from the 1970s involving Carlson and an 11-year-old boy.

Boy Scout leaders at Katahdin Area Council also said they turned over a letter concerning Carlson to state police detectives on Monday that includes allegations of child abuse.

Child Abuse Investigation

Sad to say, first thing that popped to mind. Couldn't face music, killed self. Hope to be proven wrong.

Memorial service for Carlson to be held Friday

By Andrew Neff, BDN Staff

Posted Nov. 14, 2011, at 6:04 p.m.

BANGOR, Maine — A public memorial service for the Rev. Robert Carlson will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Bangor Auditorium...

More from BDN

How sad! I did not know the Reverand, but I must admit that the first thing that came to mind was the Penn State issue and whether a child abuse question may have been involved in this case. Apparently there was. There is no need to speculate at this point. The facts will be presented eventually. God help us protect our children!

Do I detect an undercurrent of willingness to "wait for the investigation"? I think we should. I usually am, in any case where I lack inside information.

11/15/11

This morning the Bangor Daily News has published a new story on the untimely death of Rev Carlson, with some stunning new developments.

Rev. Robert Carlson was under investigation by state police before his death

WC

This news makes me very sad indeed. What a loss to the community to have such a beloved public figure come to what appears to be an untimely end. I only heard the man a few times on the Hale/Tyler God Squad show, I know nothing else about him except the accomplishments cited in the recent news stories.

I would ask that anyone reading this consider that everyone of us, without exception, falls short of the Glory of God daily and are "sinners". It is easy to prioritize offenses and well we should in the criminal code, murder being more heinous than littering, but before God, we all look the same, filthy rags in the absence of His unmerited favor. I am not defending Rev. Carlson, just so very sad that he being so close to the source of Life as a minister, possibly may have failed so badly. (if these reports are credible).

I just ask that this tragedy serve as a reminder and lesson to each of us as to how very frail we really are.

Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future. Suicide is not the answer, in either case. The answer may be found in accountablity and repentance. Jesus is able and willing to forgive us for everything, no matter how reprehensible one's actions may seem to oneself or others. Humans and our laws are less forgiving, which makes the accountability part difficult to live with.

Bob Carlson and I were friends for over 40 years. I miss him already. And I pray that God has mercy on his soul, and mercy on his wife, family and friends...and on anyone involved in whatever caused him to end his life in this manner.

"Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future." True for Sandusky too?

charlie

Presuming you are addressing me, I know of no one for whom that quote does not apply.

My self included.

charlie

The syrupy sentiments expressed here about saint and sinners does not change the possibility that this guy may be a despicable pedophile....note...I said "may be" and "possibility". I am not accusing him or condemning him but, I have my suspicions...don't you?

Watcher most of these reactions are understandable it is human nature I guess.
Maybe it would be a little clearer that he 'might have been" . I have my doubts but am willing to see what comes out ,however there is a good chance that you are correct unfortunately !

Syrupy would be a poor characterization of the "saints and sinners" comment.

There are no perfect human beings. We are all very imperfect. The Bible calls those who follow Christ "saints." All those who have professed to accept Jesus into their life as their savior have asked Jesus for forgiveness of their sins, and have repented. Some saints have done nothing much worse in their lives than jay walking, figuratively speaking. For most of the rest of us, our sins are more grievous. Some of us are muderers, adulterers, liars, cheats, prostitutes, pimps, pedophiles...if you can think of a horrible, dastardly list of sins or wrongs, there are "saints" who have committed them. A good example of this would be Saul in the New Testament. He is widely known as Paul, his new name in Christ. Saints are not perfect, just forgiven. And we try, as much as possible, to live our lives following the footsteps of Christ. For some of us, for every two steps forward, we fall one step (or more) back. Christ's love, though, is consistent. He is the perfect definition of faithful. Every saint, though, has a past. And while saints are forgiven for their sins, they are not released from the consequences of sin. The consequences of sin are vast, with long, sometimes life long, even multi-generational negative results on many innocent people.

Sinners (we are all sinners, but in this context I am referring to those who have yet to accept Christ as their savior) have a future, one that can have positive eternal results if one repents of his/her sins and accepts Jesus as their savior. Without that, the result will be an eternity outside of the presence of God, which we know as Hell. In God's plan, sinners who accept Jesus as their savior, repenting of their sins, will spend eternity within the presence of God, which we know as heaven.

The above is what I referred to with the "saints and sinners" comment. It wasn't intended to by syrupy, and I apologize if that is how it was perceived.

Regarding Bob Carlson, the man I knew was full of good works. Most of us, though, do not know the "true" man in anyone. If Bob had a darker side or sordid past, of which I am unaware, that is both sad and unfortunate, for him, any victims, and his family and friends. I earnestly hope that the Bob I knew was the Bob I thought I knew, and not the other way around.

WVII News
Main: General News:

PCHC Statement on Developments in Rev. Carlson Investigation Submitted: 11/15/2011

BANGOR - Penobscot Community Health Care officials released a statement today on the developments into the investigation of Reverend Bob Carlson's death.

"Early yesterday afternoon, before the allegations of Rev. Carlson's past behavior were revealed, members of PCHC's leadership made comments about the Reverend's passing expressing the sadness and dismay the staff of PCHC felt at the tragic turn of events.

Full statement:
http://www.wvii.com/stories.html?sku=20111115202014

Ditto Watcher. This morning's GHRT show made me cringe. My opinion is most here too close to the subject, including GHRT cohosts. Not to mean you should not grieve privately for the loss of your friend, the loss of his reputation and the victims (whether his victims remains to be seen).

Let's say it is confirmed that he was a pedophile. Typically this same audience decries that particular crime from the nearest mountain top. How will you then equate the crime with the glowing eulogies? Better keep mum.

Remember this?: http://wikimapia.org/12337868/Calumet-Bridge-at-Fort-Western-former-Curr.... Kinda akin to the pharaoh's name being striken from all monuments, which may repeat in this case. Suggest you think twice, grieve privately among yourselves. Not here nor on the air.

Alter ego---excellent advice.

Anybody remember the "Unibubba"? the security guard in Atlanta who got accused and then 'convicted' in the media for the Olympics bombing, and who was subsequently found to be innocent?
We do need to remember that an accusation is not a conviction, and that Carlson may have had other motives for his act of despair.

This morning's Bangor Daily News has a story on this subject, which contains an interview with former Penobscot County sherriff Tim Richardson.

News Story

This same story also contains a link to a PDF file containing a copy of the original letter, received mid last week, in several places, which led to the ongoing Maine State Police investigation.

Letter

WC

"We do need to remember that an accusation is not a conviction, and that Carlson may have had other motives for his act of despair."

Vikingstar:

Under an "apples and apples" standard, then, how should AMG have treated Mr. Lavallee Davidson prior to his conviction?

We were treated to such trash as having Larry Bliss dragged into this for God knows what reason. At least the victim of the drugged-dungeon-bizarre shooting death was an equally gorked out willing participant. Applying the same standard as applied to Lavallee Davidson during the pretrial phase, how should Carlson be treated by posters here, and in the media generally?

Applying the "lets bash every gay in the neighborhood" standard, how should Carlson's associates be treated?

Just asking. There is however one MAJOR difference between the two cases. There was a logical and morally sustainable reason to soft pedal the publicity so the So. Portland weirdo could get a fair trial and CONVICTED in a PORTLAND court. There is no reason to soft pedal commentary about a man who uses his collar to abuse kids on the sly, with no trial in the offing.

So, shouldn't AMG attack Carlson with the same antigay attitude that Lavallee was attacked? Shouldn't we be posting the location of every person who was associated with him, fellow men of the cloth, and any registered sex offender in his neighborhood, and put the Mapquest maps up for all to consider?