Rob Seel

Central, SC

Robert Matthew (Rob) Seel passed into the arms of his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ on November 14, 2025, after a three-year battle against duodenal cancer.  He was 59 years old.  Rob is survived by his beloved wife, Frances Longino Seel, having been married for thirty-six years.  Also surviving are daughters Julia Michele Seel of Brooklyn, NY; Elaine Nichole Seel of Denver, CO; sister Amanda Seel Prather of Statesboro, GA; and parents, Ellen Catherine and Robert Frazier Seel of Fernandina Beach, FL.

Born in Rahway, NJ, Rob lived and was raised in Rahway; Allentown, PA; Fayetteville, NC; Bridgewater, NJ; and Hillsborough, NJ.  He graduated from Statesboro High School in Statesboro, GA in 1984.  Rob went on to Clemson University, where he graduated with Calhoun College honors, a Bachelor of Science degree in Design in 1988, and a Master of Architecture in 1990.

He worked for several premier architectural firms in the Anderson and Greenville, SC area until he established RMSArchitecture in Clemson, SC in 2005.  With those other firms, as well as with his own, Rob contributed to many proud and significant projects, mostly for church clients, elementary education, and residential health care.  In his final years of practice, Rob completed innumerable small projects for Clemson and Lander Universities.  Of particular note are two award-winning projects: a masonry design award for Summit Drive Elementary School in Greenville, SC and the 2016 National Remodel of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders for a residence in Clemson, SC.

Along the way, Rob took up home-roasting coffee and developed his signature Cashmere Charette blend.  His passion for a beautiful cup of coffee was passed along to daughter Elaine, who now has care of the Cashmere Charette blend and brand.

Rob came to faith in Jesus Christ as a college freshman and soon found an interest in Christian theology.  He aligned with and investigated numerous campus ministries until finally settling in with the Reformed University Fellowship and the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).   He also learned to play guitar as a college sophomore and was soon leading worship for two campus ministries and, eventually, for twenty-three years in church.  Rob was an ordained Ruling Elder in the PCA.

Of his many interests and pursuits, it was his life-long love of popular, rock and roll music that characterized and colored much of Rob’s significant friendships and side careers.  He informally learned to play from many friends who would teach him a thing or two.  He gave up years of playing music in church and soon became a leading figure among the Upstate SC Live Music Community.  Rob was a beloved entertainer in what he called “the happiness business,” recalling for thousands of people forgotten, beloved memories and the words to every song he brought back from the obscure depths of simpler, less complicated times.  Rob was blessed to have recorded a short album of songs from the late 1960s entitled “reViberation,” to critical acclaim, despite its very limited distribution.  Rob believed it was the gift of music that had the greatest, lasting positive effect on people than any other of his interactive pursuits or professions.

In harmony with his career in architecture, Rob was a working artist and avid photographer.  For a time, he was part of the Art Gallery on Pendleton Square in Pendleton, exhibiting small, constructive sculptures and countless photographs.  Rob even published seven photography monographs, including a seasonal series based on the small town of Pendleton.  His vacations, day trips, and extended bicycle rides often resulted in the addition of thousands of photographs, many of which became repeat sellers.  Perhaps his most widely recognized photograph is “Total Eclipse over Clemson,” which was produced hundreds of times in open edition, as well as being included in Clemson University’s commemorative book covering the lunar event in 2017.

Especially, he was a life-long railroad modeler and skilled custom model craftsman.  He was a member of the National Model Railroad Association and the Central Railway Model & Historical Association and won several awards for his work depicting railroads in his native New Jersey.

A worship and memorial service to celebrate and honor Rob’s remarkable life will be held at 10 AM Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Oconee Presbyterian Church, 121 Rochester Highway, Seneca SC.  The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church from 9:00 until 9:45 AM.

Following services in South Carolina, there will be a visitation at Pettit-Davis Funeral Home followed by a graveside service at the historic Rahway Cemetery in Rahway, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers and plants, donations may be made to and graciously received by Oconee Presbyterian Church’s Building fund or Deacon’s Mercy Ministry Fund, www.oconeepres.org, or to Corporate Angel Network, https://www.corpangelnetwork.org.

To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family please visit www.libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling local arrangements.

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