Roberto Mario Rodriguez, Joseph Peter Grace III
Aug 17, 2025
Note: “People We’ve Lost” is a feature of the Bar Harbor Story where we share obituaries of people that the island lost in the previous 1-2 weeks. We’re doing this because we think everyone deserves to be remembered as widely as possible. If you have an obituary for a loved one or friend that you can’t afford to place in other spaces, please let us know and we’ll share it here for you.
Roberto Mario Rodriguez
Windsor, Vermont and MDI
A Life Well Lived
Roberto Mario Rodriguez, age 79, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025, at Mt. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, Vermont. Roberto was born on November 17, 1945, in Santiago, Chile, to Mario Rodriguez and Marjorie Talman Rodriguez. He is survived by his wife Krysia Rodriguez (Maziec), son Tony, daughter Elizabeth, sister Elizabeth Filleul, brother-in-law Francis Filleul, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Roberto was born on November 17, 1945, in Santiago, Chile, to Mario Rodriguez and Marjorie Talman Rodriguez. He held both U.S. and Canadian citizenships and earned a degree in Industrial Design from the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD).
Roberto’s distinguished museum career spanned over five decades. He began at the National Museums of Canada and ultimately served as Deputy Director at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (now the Canadian Museum of History). He and his family moved to the United States in 1994 and settled in Windsor, Vermont.
After relocating to the U.S., he served as executive director of multiple institutions including the American Precision Museum (VT), the Park-McCullough House (VT), the Fort at No. 4 Living History Museum (NH), the Precision Valley Corvette Museum (VT), and the Revelstoke Railway Museum (BC). From 2009 to 2012, he led the Seal Cove Auto Museum in Maine as executive director, returning in later years as interim director, director of curatorial affairs, curator, and ultimately as a board member and contributing researcher.
In 2018 he authored “Sing Us a Song, Jimmy: The Story Behind a 1913 Peugeot at the Seal Cove Auto Museum” for Chebacco, the Mount Desert Island Historical Society Magazine. And in 2019, he published a book based on the “Selling Lifestyle & Leisure” exhibition at the Museum. His most recent book, Every Car Tells a Story: Car Stories from the Seal Cove Auto Museum, was published in March 2021. His many articles appeared in the Horseless Carriage Club of America’s Gazette and other car enthusiast publications.
From running museum gift shops to directing award-winning exhibits, Roberto’s work was grounded in a passion for storytelling, community engagement, and making history accessible.
A Man of Many Interests
A lifelong car enthusiast, Roberto’s passion for automobiles began in 1964 with the purchase of his first car, a 1929 Durant. In the 1970s, he founded the Canadian 300SL Owners Association, and in the following decades, he organized Porsche Day events in Ottawa. He remained actively involved in the automotive world through his work with the Seal Cove Auto Museum as a Coachbuilder contributor and as a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America. He proudly showed vehicles from the Seal Cove collection at prominent events such as the Amelia Island Concours, Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival, Misselwood Concours, the Boston Cup, and the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. Beyond cars, Roberto had a deep love for photography and vintage cameras, was fascinated by South American antiquities, and enthusiastic about historic firearms.
Roberto made those around him feel at ease. His storytelling and keen sense of history came alive in the exhibits he curated and in the many memorable anecdotes he shared with friends and family. He was a wonderful father and loving husband. As a father, he encouraged his children to explore their creativity and artistic expression. With his wife, they shared a strong bond of mutual love and respect.
Roberto’s legacy is one of quiet brilliance, dedication, and professionalism. Always a gentleman, he treated family and friends with genuine respect and kindness. Roberto will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Roberto’s Celebration of Life gathering will be held at the Seal Cove Auto Museum, 1414 Tremont Rd., Seal Cove, Maine on August 23, 2025, from 2-5 p.m. For those in need of hotel accommodation, please be sure to book your travel in advance.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are appreciated to the American Lung Association.
Knight Funeral Home of Windsor, VT has been entrusted with arrangements.
Joseph Peter Grace III
Pretty Marsh, MDI
Joseph Peter Grace III passed peacefully from advanced Parkinson’s disease on Sunday, July 27, at Piper Shores in Scarborough, Maine. Born on Aug. 26, 1942, in New York City, Peter was the son of the late J. Peter Grace Jr. and Margaret Fennelly Grace and the eldest of their nine children. Peter spent his childhood in Manhasset, N.Y., where he enjoyed sailing, tennis and a busy social life. Peter went on to study business at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., where he formed many friendships and a lifelong loyalty and love for the school. If heaven includes watching Notre Dame football with his wife Marti at his side, he will be eternally happy.
After working for W.R. Grace and spending decades in restaurant management in New York, N.Y., and Dallas, Texas, Peter retired to Pretty Marsh on the coast of Maine in 2009. He built a home overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and enjoyed long walks with Marti and their dogs. Together, they enjoyed traveling abroad and preparing gourmet meals locally with family and friends. Peter was proud of his over 35 years of sobriety and service to others. Life was good, even after Peter developed Parkinson’s and the physical challenges that accompany the disease. He maintained a positive outlook and sense of humor to the very end.
Peter was predeceased by both of his parents and his wife, Marti Klein. He is survived by his remaining eight siblings William (Marjorie), Stephen (Darlene), Margaret Shethar (John), Mary Grace Benson (Doug), Patrick (Margaret), Nora O’Donnell (Colum), Theresa Sears (Richard) and Christopher as well as his three children with his former wife Patricia Ryan Grace, Gail Grace (James Shefcik), Hilary Grace Leonhard (Todd) and Peter Grace (Sheila) and four grandchildren Jake and Erik Shefcik, Lilly Leonhard and Peter Brendan Grace.
At Peter’s request, his cremated remains will be laid to rest alongside Marti’s in the sea off the Acadia coastline, a place they cherished for its natural beauty and serenity. A private family celebration of Peter’s life will be held in the summer of 2026.
The Grace family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Piper Shores for the compassionate care and support provided to Peter in his final days.
Memories and condolences can be shared on the Hobbs Funeral Home website: www.hobbsfuneralhome.com/obituary/joseph-grace.
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