Robert (Bob) L. Matthews of Bedford, Massachusetts died in Boston on November 25.
The son of the Owen and Marion Matthews, he was born in Ayer, Massachusetts and moved to Jamaica Plain at a young age where he lived for the remainder of his childhood. He had two brothers, Donald and Lawrence and one sister, Alice Eaton.
Growing up in Jamaica Plain Bob was very active in CYO and high school sports, particularly excelling in basketball. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School where a nun recognized his ability and insisted he apply to Boston College. Upon graduating from high school at age 16, Bob went to work full time for Estabrook Investment Firm while attending BC’s Evening College. He Graduated from BC in 1957.
He spent the majority of his career working in Human Resources, beginning at MITRE Corporation in Bedford. He went on to Compugraphic Corporation in Wilmington which was eventually purchased by Bayer Pharmaceuticals where he completed his career as Director of Compensation and Benefits.
In 1963 he married Anita Orlando of Youngstown, Ohio and they settled in Bedford where they raised their three children, Robert, Jean-Marie and Carolyn. Bob was an avid sports fan who also enjoyed reading and classical music. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family. He adored his six grandchildren, Emily, Michael and Kelly Matthews, Jacqueline and Peter Loiselle, and Joshua Gard.
In addition to leaving his grandchildren, Bob is survived by his devoted wife, Anita, his son Robert and his wife Lisa of Abington, his daughter Jean-Marie Gard and her husband Sebastian of Lexington and his daughter Carolyn Loiselle and her husband Vance of Duxbury. He also leaves his brother, Lawrence and his wife, Maryann of Milton.
Visitation will be held at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Road, Bedford on Monday, November 30 from 4-8 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Road, Bedford, on Tuesday, December 1, at 9 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611-3201.
(NOTE: The above obituary and photo are from Bedford Funeral Home.)
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