Van Buren & Thorndike--- Robert W. Hebert, 78, passed away peacefully April 25, 2025 at a Bangor hospital, following a short period of declining health.  He was born March 3, 1947 in Van Buren, a son of the late Henry and Isabel (Cyr) Hebert.

Bob was a graduate of Van Buren Boys High, Class of 1965.  Upon graduation he attended William Penn College, Oskaloosa, IA, where he obtained his Bachelors of Science in Physical Education.  He returned to his hometown to teach physical education and health.  Soon thereafter, he became the Crusaders' beloved basketball coach where from 1972 to 1990 he guided his teams to the Bangor Auditorium on a regular basis.  At the time of his death, Bob was proudly serving on the Van Buren Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

Bob's passion for coaching basketball was undeniable.  He was from the "old school" and each winter you could find him bounding up and down the sidelines encouraging his players, the fans and the occasional official.  Fellow coaches would jokingly chide him for being the inspiration behind the highly unpopular and short-lived "seat belt rule".  Bob left it all on the court and so did his players.  His loyalty for them extended beyond the game of basketball and until the time of his death he was still getting regular phone calls from former players and opposing coaches.

It was in basketball that Bob forged some of his most important relationships.   Bob was one of the original coaches at the venerable Pine Tree Basketball Clinic.  Over the course of nearly 30 summers, Bob would reunite with peers from across the country to exchange new ideas, tactics, and share entertaining stories.  Rumor has it that a game or two of poker may have been played during that time.

Basketball also led Bob to Mount View High School.  There was no prouder Mustang than Bob.  As health teacher and coach, from 1992 to 2000, he described his environment as intensely positive and he was forever grateful to friend and Principal Wayne Suomi for giving him an opportunity to be a part of that family.  The relationships that were made at Mount View and the support he received endured throughout his life.

Although Bob incessantly teased his younger sister, Lisa, she somehow found a way to adore him.  His brothers John and Tom were immeasurably proud of their younger brother and all he accomplished.  To his nieces and nephew Bob was the ultimate "cool uncle."  The life lessons he bestowed upon them were sometimes poignant, invariably comedic and usually unappreciated by their parents.  He continued to pass on his quick wit and street savviness to his grand nephews and niece who would invariably gravitate to him during family gatherings.

He is survived by two siblings, John Hebert and Lisa Hebert, both of Van Buren; his "other brother" Tom Flanigan; nieces and nephew, Stephanie Randall and her husband Brian, and their children, Megan and Ian, of Bangor, Julie Gardner and her husband Willie of Ashland, Helene Adams and her husband John, and their sons, Ben, Luke and Jack, of Gorham, and John Hebert and his wife Amy, and their sons, Henry, Sam and Louie, of Van Buren.

Besides his parents, Bob was predeceased by his brother, Tom Hebert, and sister-in-Law Linda (Coleman) Hebert and sister-in-law Sylvia (Laforest) Hebert.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at St. Bruno-t. Remi Church, Van Buren. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Van Buren Athletic Hall of Fame: MSAD #24, Athletic Hall of Fame, 169 Main Street, Suite 102, Van Buren, ME 04785. Arrangements are a service of Lajoie Funeral Home, 118 High St., Van Buren. To share condolences online, please visit www.LajoieFuneralHome.com