Robert "Bob" Dehanne Lehman, Jr.

Robert (Bob) DeHanne Lehman Jr., age 80, of Bluffton, SC, passed away peacefully the morning of July 20, 2023, after a brief illness.

Bob was born September 4, 1942 to Robert and Caroline Lehman in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up on Long Island, and enjoyed boating and fishing in his spare time. After graduating from Wantagh High School, he joined the U.S. Navy. Bob spoke with great pride of his service aboard the submarine USS Requin (SS481) including their role with the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Gerda Hunt, in 1965 and they had two children, Robert III and Lisa.

He opened his first company, Vacudyne Industries, in his garage in Centereach, NY after shattering his forearm in an unfortunate ladder accident.  Some of the highlights of this portion of his career include working with doctors and manufacturers to design equipment that transported frozen blood to soldiers in need on the front lines and working with the Walter Reed Medical Hospital.

Bob was an inventor and was awarded a patent for a two-stage refrigerator in 1979.

He married the second love of his life, Deena Rawlins, in 1987, becoming stepfather to Jamie and Peter Timothy.

From that point, Bob spoke glowingly of his four children.  He and Deena reveled in the alternating boy/girl order as each grandchild arrived: Duncan, Miranda, Miles, Maria, PJ, KJ, Thomas and Ryan.

Bob and Deena moved to Bluffton, SC, where Bob opened Prestige Heating and Air.  He proudly managed Prestige Heating & Air and built his business focused on his customers and their experience.

Bob and Deena had a shared love of their pooch, Brinkley, and Bob leaves behind his new pup, Sir Winston.

He was a lifelong learner and teacher. Whether it was sharing his philosophy of live and let live, coaching his kids’ and grandkids’ sports, or teaching refrigeration to his APEX Technical school students and employees, Bob believed in education.

Bob always carried himself with quiet confidence, not afraid to speak up and push back. An eternal optimist, he believed in himself and pursuing his dreams and supported his family by allowing them to do the same.

Just two years ago as his children and grandchildren gathered in Nashville for a family reunion, he called us all together. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Bob shared he’d had many successes and challenges in life and business. But his greatest pride and joy, he told us, was his family gathered together in that room.

Bob is survived by his sons- Robert (Pam) Lehman III, Peter Timothy (Susan) Rawlins, and his daughters- Lisa Hickey and Jamie Ragonesi. He has eight grandchildren: Duncan & Miranda Lehman, Miles & KJ Hickey, Maria & Thomas Ragonesi, PJ & Ryan Rawlins.

Bob’s funeral will be Monday July 24 at Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, 90 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC 29910.  Viewing will be at 10:00 AM and the service will be at 11:00 AM.