Robert Dean Sager was born in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio on May 30, 1928, the son of Virgil Dean and Irene Dunn Sager. He attended Toledo Public Schools and after graduating from Waite High School in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Air Force for three years.
He graduated from Davis Junior College of Business in 1951 and joined the Sun Oil Company. He was coordinator of Payrolls and Special Projects and Treasurer of the Credit Union when he resigned from the company to become Assistant Secretary of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley on Toledo, on November 1, 1972. On May 18, 1973, he became Executive Secretary of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Toledo, serving in that capacity until his death.
On October 6, 1956, he was married to Marilyn Maas. They are the parents of two daughters and have five grandchildren. They resided in Maumee, Ohio and were members of the Maumee United Methodist Church.
He was made a Master Mason in Barton Smith Lodge No. 613 on May 27, 1950 and served as Worshipful Master in 1958. That same year he served as President of the Masonic Executives’ Association of the Eleventh Masonic District. While President, he co-authored the writing of the by-laws for the Board of Governors and became its first President.
He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Port Lawrence Chapter No. 176 on October 22, 1951; was received as a Royal and Select Master in Toledo Council No. 33 on April 16, 1955; was created a Knight Templar in St. Orner Commandery on March 13, 1956.
He became a member of the Four Coordinate Bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Toledo on October 14 and 15, 1952 and served as Most Wise Master of Ft. Industry Chapter of Rose Croix, 1965-67. He was crowned a Thirty-third Degree Mason and Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, 33°, at Atlantic City, New Jersey on, September 25, 1968.
He was a member of Yondata Chapter No. 317, Order of Eastern Star, Royal Order of Jesters, Court No. 21, O-Ton-Ta-La Grotto, Masonic Veterans Association of Ohio, Lucas County Memorial Lodge and Maumee Valley High 12 Twelve Club. He was a Past Sovereign of Saint Thomas Conclave No. 79, Red Cross of Constantine and a Past Director of Otis Avery Browning Masonic Memorial Fund.
In October 1960 he was appointed by Charles H. Strayer, M.W. Grand Master, to serve as District Deputy Grand Master for the Eleventh Masonic District and served in that capacity for three years.
On November 22, 1967 he was appointed as Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Canada, Province of Ontario, near the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and on April 8, 1970, he received the Honorary Legion of Honor from the International Order of DeMolay.
In October 1967, M.W. Brother Don E. Kretzinger appointed him to the Office of Junior Grand Deacon. He was subsequently appointed Senior Grand Deacon, Grand Marshal and Grand Orator.
He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1971, Senior Grand Warden in 1972 and Deputy Grand Master in 1973. On October 18, 1974, in Columbus, Ohio he was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Ohio and was installed into that office on October 19, 1974.
He was elected Chairman of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America and presided over the two-day conference, which was held in Washington D.C., on February 18-19, 1975. The President of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association also appointed him chairman of a committee to place a wreath at George Washington’s Tomb in Mount Vernon, where he gave a tribute to George Washington on behalf of the Association and all the Masons in the United States of America.
In 1975, while serving as Grand Master, he was honored when both the Scottish Rite Spring Reunion and the Shrine Spring Ceremonial were named in his honor. On August 16, 1975, he received the Honorary Degree of the Tall Cedar at Sight.
On April 6, 1976, he was award the Pierpont Edwards Medal in Bronze by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut for distinguished Masonic Service.
He became a member of Zenobia Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. on May 8, 1954 and served as Potentate in 1982.
On January 1, 1987, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home and was serving as First Vice President at the time of his death.
Tribute was given to him on April 27, 1991, when the Northwest Ohio York Rite Festival was named in his honor. He was the recipient of many honorary memberships in Lodges, Shrine Temples, Grottoes, and Eastern Stars.
M.W. Brother Sager passed away on April 21, 1992 in Toledo, Ohio.
Masonic Services were conducted on April 24, 1992 by Barton Smith Lodge No. 613. Funeral services were held at the Foth-Dorfmeyer Mortuary in Toledo on April 25, 1992. Internment was at Willow Cemetery.