Staff Writer

    To paraphrase Judy Garland, somewhere over the ocean ants taste just like lemon drops. And, after 39 days scavenging for food in the savannahs and jungles of Africa, a Mainer proved he has what it takes to survive.

Robert “Bob” Crowley, 57, was named sole Survivor and fan favorite on CBS’ “Survivor: Gabon.” The oldest contestant – and only Mainer – to take home the title, he used his role as a provider and friend to “outwit, outlast, outplay” 17 contestants to take home to reality show’s 17th title during Sunday’s live finale show.

Crowley, who lives in South Portland and teaches physics at Gorham High School, filmed the show in the western African country in June but had to wait until this week’s show in Los Angeles for the final outcome. He wore his trademark bow tie – which he also wore throughout his time in Gabon – for the final reveal. Sitting in between finalists Susie and Sugar, Crowley looked nervous as the votes were tallied.

As host Jeff Probst revealed the vote, the final three contestants huddled together and clutched hands. Unfolding each ballot, Probst read the names slowly: Bob. Susie. Susie. Susie. Bob. Bob. 

And finally, after a dramatic pause, Bob. 

Crowley jumped up to hug Susie and Sugar before running off stage to embrace his wife and children.

 “I was trying to keep cardiac arrest from kicking in. I just wish he hadn’t taken 15 or 20 minutes to turn that stupid little card around. He’s a wonderful guy, but I could kill him for doing stuff like that,” Crowley said on Monday. “I can’t describe how exciting it was to see my whole family in the front row.”

Crowley was considered one of the stronger contestants in Gabon because of his ability to provide food and shelter for his tribe. He said his strategy going into the game was to fill those roles and felt he did a good job following through with his plan. 

“My strategy was to fly low under the radar but not so low you fly into a tree,” Crowley said. “I knew once we merged (tribes) I would have to change from flying under the radar to flying low in between the trees.”

Crowley won five consecutive challenges before losing the final immunity challenge after failing to build a house of cards higher than the other contestants. He said he was “clever” with puzzles but doesn’t really want to talk about cards anymore. Crowley went on to win a tie-breaking challenge with fellow contestant Matty during a finale elimination vote, thanks to last minute support from Sugar, wh called Crowley a “father figure.”

The challenge required both men to build a fire high enough to burn through a length of rope. Crowley, who practiced starting fires, won before Matty was able to spark a blaze. Once Matty was eliminated from the competition, Crowley went head to head against Sugar and Susie to convince the jury – comprised of former contestants – he was worthy of their vote. 

On Monday, Crowley reflected on his time in Gabon and the nature of the game he played. 

“Without a doubt the most challenging part was the psychology of the whole game and the human interaction,” he said. “The survival in the jungle was fun, I just had a great time. It was a mind game light years beyond what I thought it would be.”

Crowley drew much attention during the game for a fake immunity idol he created while on Exile Island, a location separate from other contestants. Before leaving for the island, he secretly collected beads and used a length of string to create the idol. His then convinced contestant Randy the idol was real. Probst returned the remains of the fake idol, which had been tossed into a fire during the game, to Crowley during the reunion show following the finale.

Crowley said he will “without a doubt” remain in contact with other contestants, including Sugar, who he calls a “great kid.”

“Probably my favorite is Charlie, who is just a delightful character. I love him to death,” he said.

Contestants on the show must find their own food and Crowley said he wasn’t afraid to try anything.

“I ate anything that wasn’t tied down,” he said.

Crowley’s Gabon menu included ants – which he said “taste like lemon drops” – and turtle meat. He said he “wasn’t really into” termites and maggots  because they “were kind of blasé.”

Crowley’s favorite moment during his time in Africa was a reunion with Peggy, his wife of 28 years. After winning a reward challenge, he was handed a video phone to watch a message from his wife. He said he could only see a short loop of the video and had no idea Peggy was actually standing behind him.

“I was talking to the phone not realizing she was there. It was the first time in my life I really got the feeling I was looking at a ghost,” he said.

The moment he saw his wife is “burned deeply in my brain. For both of us it was just an incredible moment. It was one of the most moving moments of my life, probably only third to marring her and having children,” he said.

Crowley said Peggy signed the same “threatening” release with CBS that barred them from publicly discussing what happened on the show, so they were able to discuss much of what happened in Africa. He said he “tortured” his three children – David, John and Page -– by not telling them anything about the show before the finale.

Crowley did share many of his experiences with his father, who died before the first episode aired.

“He was probably my biggest fan. I never heard my father lie,” Crowley said. “He said to me as I left, ‘Bluffing is not lying.’”

As his father grew more ill, Crowley said he sat down with him one evening to tell him everything he could remember about the game. He said his father would have enjoyed watching him compete on the show.

Crowley was awarded $1 million for winning the show, as well as $100,000 for being named the fan favorite. He said he will bring Peggy on the honeymoon he could never afford to give her. They plan to travel to the “nice parts” of Gabon, he said.

Despite his financial prize, Crowley said he will return to his teaching job – at least for now. He said he is close to retirement and the money “may influence my decisions.”

Yet on Monday Crowley was focused on his physics students and whether or not they had taken the test they were supposed to. Despite a “nasty cold” and hoarse voice, he said he planned to return to the classroom by Wednesday to correct or administer tests, depending on how influential his students were on the substitute teacher. 

After his Sunday night win, Crowley said he received at least 20 text messages from students asking if they still had to take the test Monday. He said he is “too old to text message” but managed to reply that they did indeed have to take it as planned.

Crowley said the test included a question based on a challenge he participated in on the show. In the challenge, each contestant had to throw a ball over the edge of a cliff onto a target below. He created a “relatively difficult” question with formulas for the test based on the challenge, even though he just “chucked the thing off the cliff.” 

“I’m taking their excitement from the game and making them do physics with it,” Crowley said. “I know they’re excited and part of my strategy is using it maliciously against them to make them do physics.”

Gorham High School Principal Chris Record said the school was excited about Crowley’s win, but he was most impressed with the teacher’s ability to incorporate his adventures into classroom lessons.

“What I appreciate most about him is this fall he used his Survivor fame to enhance his teachings,” Record said.

In addition to physics experiments based on Survivor challenges, Crowley was also “very generous” with his time, Record said. Crowley spoke at a “Survivor Night” to help raise money for the senior class and has gotten students interested in physics, he said.

Record said the school will have some kind of event to celebrate Crowley’s success, but specific plans are still in the works.

South Portland City Manager James Gailey said the city is committed to issuing a proclamation declaring a “Bob Crowley Day,” but will wait until he returns to Maine to coordinate the event.