Robert Brooke Aldridge, 87, of Leonardtown, MD passed away peacefully in his home on May 20th, 2025.
Born September 11th, 1937 in Washington, D.C., he was the loving son of the late Herbert Aldridge and Olive Ramsey Aldridge.
Robert (Bob) said it himself, he had a “wonderful life.”
During his final year at Washington College in 1959, he married Jane Smith, his longtime sweetheart. Together they became parents to two daughters.
Bob’s service in the Marines as a helicopter pilot took the young family from coast to coast, with deployments to Japan and Vietnam. His Marine service launched his distinguished 32-year career as a United Airlines pilot. His aviation career, in turn, inspired his lifelong love of travel, much of which he enjoyed with a close group of friends from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School.
Bob and Jane built a beautiful home in St. Mary’s County with the aim of providing a place for family gatherings. The family treasures memories of eating, crabbing, boating and swimming together at their home.
At age 80, Bob married Maxine Counihan, who the family had known for years, and joyfully gained three more daughters through this union.
He attended St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church with his wife Maxine, where he rediscovered his love of singing in the choir.
For more than two decades, he generously volunteered at Historic Sotterley as a member of the Garden Guild and as a Trustee, demonstrating his deep commitment to preserving local history and beauty.
Bob is survived by his wife, Maxine Aldridge; daughters, Lorraine Aldridge-Ey and Joanna Woods; step-daughters, Jennifer Couser, Lorraine Stafford and Erin Counihan; brother, John Aldridge; twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his former wife and mother to his children, Jane Aldridge.
A service will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, California, MD at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 14th, followed by a Celebration of Life at Historic Sotterley, Hollywood, MD at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Mary’s Caring Soup Kitchen at stmaryscaring.org. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md.