Contributions to the tribute of Robert John Terpstra

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Skip Gerard posted a condolence

Friday, May 19, 2023

I'm so sadden to read this news. I met Bob many years ago in contract manufacturing. My first impression of him was that I thought he was kinda goofy and had a very simple way about him and wasn't quite sure if he was going to fit in with the contract manufacturing world. Boy was I wrong he not only fit in but quickly became a Mentor to me. He helped me become more efficient in my daily tasks and so much more. The more I got to know him, the move I found myself to lean on him. We enjoyed working together. At lunchtime there was always an adventure with trail walking, ice skating, or a trip to the local nursery. He knew something about everything, and that is why I found him to be an amazing man. He was the definition of "humble", had a contagious laugh, and one of only the few people I know that could be facetious and slide it right by you without even know what just happened. He taught me so much about nature that thanks to him I'm still involved with today. He was a good friend and a man of his world and will be forever thought of and miss. Skip Gerard Eltech Electronics

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Sandy and Kevin Taube lit a candle

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

So sorry to hear that Bob has past. He put up a good fight. Many good memories in the past bringing up our three children. With our deepest sympathy. Sincerely, Sandy and Kevin

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Alison McCommas lit a candle

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Bryan and all of the Terpstra family, I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers of comfort at this time. God Bless. Alison

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Richard Cartier" Dick" posted a condolence

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Hi, In mid 1984, at Wang Labs,in Lowell, Bob was my Manufacturing Engineering supervisor, and task me with getting Wangs FIRST Robot. After 3 months of research, I gave the proposal of a $300,000 Robot to install connectors on Mother PCB Boards to Bob. That week, Wang Labs started to go down hill, unknown to most of us. Each week, I would go to Bob, to find out if we had a "GO" TO BUY THAT ROBOT! After 2 months, layoff talks were starting, and of course we were both very disappointed that it was not going to happen. Looking back in hindsight, maybe it is a GOOD thing that we did NOT buy that Robot, then. After a while, that ROBOT would have been sitting by, with nothing to do, and the talk would have been, "Who were the IDIOTS who bought this $300,000 monstrosity? It would have been called the Terpstra/Cartier Folly!!!! I will miss Bob, and the good E mails he regularly mailed to me. He will always be in my prayers! God Bless, Dick Cartier

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The family of Robert John Terpstra uploaded a photo

Monday, May 13, 2019

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Louise Savary posted a condolence

Monday, May 13, 2019

You and your family have my deepest sympathy. Bobby was a wonderful guy. He will be missed.

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Herb Moyer posted a condolence

Monday, May 13, 2019

Condolences to Bob's family members, early life and later life. Bob was one of my step-brothers (Noke is the other SB, and Liz is a Step-Sister) when my Mother, Amy married Bob's father, John Terpstra of Saugus, MA. We lived at the Fairmount Ave. home from 1952-1959. Bob was eight years older than I was, and left home some time around 1956-1957 (I believe) to join the Navy and be part of Operation Deep Freeze, the International Geophysical Year 1957–58 studying the poles. Bob brought home movies of penguins the sailors had gotten to drink beer and stagger across the ice. Very funny ! In 1956, John Terpstra bought a farm in East Pittston, Maine, and we would travel the 3+ hour trip many Friday evenings to spend the weekend at the "farm". Noke and I had some good times there (I don't remember Bob ever being there ?). After my family split from the Terpstra family, I heard that Bob got an important job with the Wang Corp. acquiring properties for them. That would have been early in the development of the computer era "heydays". When he was still in high school, Bob got a job on a mink farm. The three of us (Bob, Noke and me) unfortunately for Noke and me, slept in the same room. Bob would come home stinking to the high heavens of rotten fish. I believe Bob was dating Sandy during these days. He must have showered, or the relationship would never have progressed. I remember games of hockey that we played on the small pond next to our house. And, I specifically remember Bob, after he came home from the South Pole, being very winded and out of shape while playing hockey. All-in-all, mostly very good memories of Bob, Noke and Liz while my sisters Judy, Cindy and I were part of their family !

Robert John Terpstra

1938 - 2019

Visitation

Funeral Services

Edward V. Sullivan
Funeral Home

Robert John Terpstra

1938 - 2019

Visitation

Funeral Services

Edward V. SullivanFuneral Home

Edward V. Sullivan
Funeral Home