Robert Joseph Willett Sr. Obituary (1931 - 2023)

Robert Joseph Willett Sr., of Old Town, Maine passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023, at the age of 91. Robert was born November 20, 1931, in Old Town to Francis and Flora Willett. The youngest of three children, Robert was known affectionately as “Bobby” by his brother Albert, sister Rita and many cousins who lived on the same block next to the mill in Great Works. These relationships instilled in him the value of family from an early age. Robert was an excellent student, attending John Bapst High School in Bangor, where he excelled in math and graduated in 1950. He studied Electrical Engineering at University of Maine at Orono, graduating in 1954. Before graduating, he married his long-time sweetheart, Patricia Ann Duplissa in February of that year. “Bob and Pat” welcomed a daughter, Sharon, a year later. After a short time in New Jersey, they relocated to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri when Robert was drafted by the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. While in Missouri they welcomed a son, Robert, Jr. Robert’s grandson Ben would later serve in the Army at Fort Leonard Wood. After Robert’s time in the Army ended, the family returned to New Jersey where he went on to receive his master’s degree in electrical engineering at New York University. During this time, Robert began a long, successful career at Bell Labs. A brilliant engineer, Robert’s team was responsible for multiple patents held by Bell Labs for both hardware and software technologies that made up what became the modern-day long-distance telephone network. Those technologies are still studied today and used as a basis for advancements in telecommunications all over the world. While in New Jersey, “Bob and Pat” welcomed their third child, Michael. Robert’s Bell Labs career thrived, and he and many other engineers and their families relocated to Illinois in 1966 to open a new campus of Bell Labs (later rebranded as AT&T). A few years after settling into their home in Winfield, IL, they welcomed their fourth child, John. Many ‘Baby Bell’ families lived and grew up in close knit neighborhoods in the western suburbs of Chicago and remained life-long friends. Robert received many accolades during his career at Bell Labs, his proudest of which was being made a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff - Technical Fellow. This award and title demonstrated the value Robert had to the organization and contributions he made as a pioneer in the telecommunications industry. Robert retired from AT&T in 2000. Shortly before his beloved Pat passed away in 2005, they relocated back to New Jersey and Bob transitioned into his ‘retirement’ by working full-time for Michael’s company, Advanced Biomedical Research, Inc. (ABR), a contract clinical research organization. Robert designed the company’s first website and directed a Clinical Information Systems department and was a senior manager, dear friend, mentor, and colleague to many at ABR. Robert was blessed to work with his son, his granddaughter Lauren, and his grandson Ben. Ben and Grampy spent precious time together collaborating on a lab automation project in the ABR research clinic. In addition to Robert’s brilliant technical career, he believed in giving back to his community. He served on the school board of School District 94 in West Chicago. At church “Bob and Pat” were co-presidents of the parish council of St. John the Baptist Church in Winfield, IL. During their tenure as co-presidents, the church successfully built an addition to the 125-year-old church, an expansion that both honored the history of the church building as well as meeting the functional and spiritual needs of a church that had grown to over 4,500 members. He and Pat were also active in their church’s Marriage Encounter ministry, making lifelong friends with others in the ministry. In the late 1970s, Robert caught the “exercise bug” and took up running to improve his health. Whenever he traveled to Maine to visit family, he could be found running the roads along Pushaw Lake, as well as the streets of Old Town. In addition to running, he became an avid cross-country skier. The family began taking annual trips to northern Wisconsin to participate in the American Birkebeiner, a 55km cross-country ski marathon, which he completed nine times. Robert moved back to Maine in 2019 and lived with his sister, Rita McGlinchey and her son Patrick and daughter-in-law Karin. Robert loved being “home” on Pushaw Lake where he enjoyed being with family and watching the beautiful sunsets over the water. For the past decade, Robert has been inseparable from his beloved dog Max, a lovable Boston terrier who was unofficially his ‘fifth child’. In these golden years, Robert’s life had come full circle, and what a consequential, well-lived life Robert had. Robert was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Patricia, his father and mother Francis Albert Willett, Sr., and Flora Ellen (Perry) Willett, his brother Francis Albert, Jr., and grandson Matthew Brinkman. He is survived by his four children, Sharon (David) Brinkman, Robert, Michael, and John (Shanna), as well as his seven grandchildren, Alyssa (Kevin) Colborn, Jess (Ernie) Tromp, Benjamin (Vanessa), Lauren (Nick) Willett, Dana (John) Willett, Caleb, and Jackson. He was also blessed with five beautiful great-grandchildren. “Uncle Bobby” was also loved by a multitude of nieces and nephews who he treasured. Robert’s children would especially like to thank his sister - Mimi (Aunt Rita), Patrick and Karin for making their home his home and for lovingly caring for him during the last few years. We are forever grateful. Friends may call from 4-7PM on August 8, 2023 at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St. Old Town. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:00am on August 9, 2023, at the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, Holy Family Church, 429 Main St. Old Town, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Robert’s memory may be made to your local animal shelter, Wounded Warriors, or Tunnel to Towers. To Live stream Mass please visit - https://www.youtube.com/@resurrectionparish338/streams