Obituary of Robert Rigby

Robert E. Rigby, a man devoted to his family and his faith, passed away at his home on Sunday morning, May 26, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. The beloved husband of Mary T. “Maureen” (Kelly) he was 79 years old. Bob and Mary would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in June. Bob was born in Boston. He was the son of the late Arthur and Frances Rigby. He was raised and educated in Dorchester. Bob was a veteran of the Korean War serving his country in the United States Air Force. He worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Motor Vehicle Department of the United States Post Office in South Boston for over 20 years. After his retirement he went on to work for over 10 years for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bob and his wife Mary lived in Dorchester until moving to Burlington 30 years ago. He was a man of deep faith and was very active in St. Peter’s Parish in Dorchester as well as St. Margaret’s in Burlington. Bob was an avid reader, a history “buff” and loved a good conversation about politics. Bob and Mary traveled extensively visiting such locations as Europe, the Caribbean, Ireland and Alaska to name a few. Family and friends were the most important to Bob. He was devoted husband of 57 years to Mary, a loving father of 7 and a proud “Pa” of 10. Bob was the beloved husband of Mary T. “Maureen” (Kelly). He was the loving father of Robert Rigby Jr. & his wife Nancy Kominkiewicz of Beverly, Chris Rigby & his wife Margaret, Bill Rigby & his wife Paula, Noreen Groom & her husband David, Kathy McDowell & her husband Brian all of Burlington and the late Karen Vick & Mark Rigby, father-in-law to Greg Vick of Lynn. Brother of the late Geraldine DeLotel, Donald, Kenneth & Arthur Rigby. Proud Pa of Anne, Christopher, Brendan, Nicole & Jillian Rigby, Meghan & Brian Groom, Michaela Vick, and Nora & Colin McDowell. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 of Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday May 29 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St., Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Family Remembrance - by Bob Rigby, Jr. Good Morning. On behalf of my Mother, my brothers and sisters and our families, thank you for coming. My Father, Bob, Bobby, Big Bobby, Big B, Dad, Daddio, and finally known as Pa died Sunday morning and we grieve that, but today we are here to remember his life. When we were asked earlier this week to pick a song for the memorial video of my Father’s life, our first thought was “My Way.” The song is fitting, because dad certainly did live his life on his own terms. Our father was fortunate to have lived a long life and full life. He and my mother were blessed with a wonderful marriage for almost 57 years. They were both fortunate to have found the love of their lives at a very young age. Theirs is a marriage we should all strive to emulate. They found, in each other, all that they needed. My parents did not strive for riches, only to work together, to raise their children in the belief that family comes first. They loved us unconditionally, gave guidance when we needed it, and a kick in the pants when we needed that too. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. Our father was raised in Dorchester with his parents and brothers and sisters. He worked hard and enjoyed spending time with his friends. Our life in Dorchester was at times chaotic, but always united. Imagine 9 sitting at a dinner table, 7 kids ranging in age from 2 to 18. At the dinner table, there were always at least 3 conversations going, usually with one of us trying to win by speaking louder than everyone else combined. But Dad had the last word. He lived a life that touched many people. He was proud, patriotic, generous, stubborn, and opinionated. His life will be measured not by what he bought or owned, even though he was usually the first to buy the latest gadget. We were the first house in our neighborhood to have a VCR, the first dishwasher, the pool table in the basement. But a better measure of him is what he gave to others. He insisted on our best, and did not tolerate laziness or carelessness. Teaching me to drive, he insisted that I learn how to drive a standard transmission. He taught all of us, and we all can drive a standard. He had unique ways of encouraging you to learn or to do better, in the case of driving a standard transmission that meant learning not to stall when starting from a stop. He drove us down to the Bradlees parking lot on Morrissey Boulevard on a Sunday in his Volkswagen bus. Every time it stalled I had to get out and push to get it started again. Of course Pa sat in the car while I pushed. That was one way he encouraged me to do better. Not only did he teach the seven of us to drive, he taught his grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. His life was full and the memories he shared with us over the years priceless, but we should measure his life by how we and others who knew him will remember him, by what he taught us, by his example of character, integrity, and mostly by the sacrifices he made for his family and for those he helped throughout his life. He would help anyone who asked, but would not endure whiners or ditherers. If you asked for his help, he gave it, but if he gave you advice and you ignored it, you were on your own. Pa was born on Patriot’s Day, April 19, 1934. He loved history and would read and discuss it with any of us, or anyone, even against our will. It was one of his passions. Pa served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1956. One of his goals in the military was to travel, to be stationed overseas, to see the world. Instead, he was assigned to Washington D.C. and worked in the Pentagon, and never left the D.C. area. He didn’t get to see the world on the Air Force’s time, but he did travel, it was one of his enduring passions. When he’d see you he’d ask, “Where’s your next trip?” “When are you going?” In his life, he had several trips to London, Scotland, Ireland, to visit with the Kelly family. He travelled throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S. including Guadeloupe, Aruba, San Francisco, and Alaska. He’d scour the Sunday Globe travel section looking for bargains and planning his next trip. But his favorite trips always involved not just him, but his children and grandchildren. Summer trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina or to the Blue Water Inn at the Cape were highlights of his last several summers. He retired from the Post Office after twenty years and pursued other jobs, including several sales positions. Pa could sell anything to anyone; and he considered negotiation the better part of the sport. Nana and Pa lived in Dorchester after they were married where they raised their seven children, and where our parents sacrificed to give us the best education. We were raised to be a close knit family. Pa instilled in us from a very early age the value of family and togetherness. While we might not always agree, we can always depend on each other and we have each other’s back. Growing up in Dorchester, one after school activity that we became involved with was St. Peter’s CYO band. Pa volunteered with the Band, helping to chaperone and supervise the kids. After a short time, Pa became the manager of the band, its CEO. And as that manager he ran a program that served hundreds of kids in Dorchester. He raised money to keep the band going, one time raising money in about 2 weeks to take the band to Washington D.C. to march in a Presidential Inaugural Parade. For several years, Nana and Pa took groups of band kids to summer camp for a week or two in August. He was a surrogate parent to many of those kids. The house on Hamilton Street was the neighborhood home where all the kids from the Neighborhood were welcome. But our neighborhood changed so Nana and Pa moved to their home in Burlington which became his castle. Pa had a swimming pool with a huge concrete patio built in the backyard. That backyard was then and still is today, the social center for the entire Rigby family all summer long. The July 4 celebrations are massive open houses, and in a few weeks there will be a crowd at the pool on the 4th and you are all welcome. So we remember his life, the love he shared and the inspiration he gave us all. We remember the burden he carried, losing two children suddenly and within weeks of each other. When we lost Karen and then Mark, dad was the family rock. He held us together with love. Now he is with Karen and Mark forever. He passed this week at home, surrounded by his family, in an ordinary way. He led an extraordinary life. Rest Well Dad.