Robert L. Goldsmith was born on January 19th, 1931 in Malden, Massachusetts and passed away at his home in Jacksonville on January 22, 2010. He graduated from Malden High School in 1949 and joined the National Guard and served for over twelve years. He attended the Forestdale Community Church in Malden. He moved to Melbourne, Florida and in 1957 married Evelyn Claire Meadows, who passed away on August 30, 1991. On July 30, 1999 he married his lovely wife and constant companion, Joan Chatham, and moved to Jacksonville, Florida.

He started his business career in 1956 owning 2 gasoline stations and 1958 started Harbor City Oil Company, Inc., and retired on July 1, 2001. During his many years in Melbourne he served many Eau Gallie organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Police Auxiliary and then as a full time Policeman.

His memberships in Masonic affiliated organizations are many. He was a member of the Harbor City Lodge #318 F. &A.M. and served as Worshipful Master. He is a Life Member of the Master and Wardens Association of that District and served as Chairman. He is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Lake Worth, was invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour and was Coroneted an Inspector General Honorary 33rd. He served the Grand Lodge of Florida as Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1983 and continued to serve as Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee, Appendant and Allied Orders Committee, Digest Committee, etc. He was appointed Deputy and Crowned an Active Member of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., in the Orient of Florida and was elected Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Florida. He was appointed the Grand Orator and elected The Grand Minister of State and later elected Grand Prior of the Supreme Council. He was appointed Representative to the Supreme Council in the Republic of Cuba and Slovenia. He was conferred with the Grand Cross of Honour and was made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council for Slovenia. He served as President of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida, which sponsors 14 Childhood Language Disorders Clinics.

Masonic Services were held at the Orlando Scottish Rite Masonic Center on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 11:00 am. Burial followed at the Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida in support of the Childhood Language Disorder Clinics.