Obituary of Robert W. Marshall

Robert (Bob) William Marshall, longtime resident of Burlington, age 86, passed away suddenly on Thursday, November 7^th, 2024, at Lahey Hospital surrounded by his entire loving family.  He was the beloved husband of Despa (Chiklakis) Marshall, with whom he shared 64 wonderful years of marriage.

Born on April 17, 1938, he was a son of the late Thomas and Greta M. (Robertson) Marshall.  Bob grew up in Chelsea, MA and graduated from Chelsea High School with the Class of 1955.  He attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH on a football scholarship.  After college, Bob explored employment opportunities in Chicago before returning to the Boston area to embark on a long and distinguished career in the baking industry, working at the Stop & Shop Bakery in the North End, Kasanof’s Bakery in Roxbury, and for many years until his retirement, as the Production Manager (and later Quality Consultant) for Automatic Rolls of New England in Auburn, MA and Dayville, CT, servicing McDonald’s restaurants and supermarkets across New England and beyond.  Bob also played semi-pro football as an offensive lineman in the old Atlantic Coast Football League for several seasons in the 1960’s for the Boston Sweepers and Lowell Giants.

Bob met the love of his life, Despa (Debbie aka “Chick” or “Chicky,” as he often referred to her) at a dance at the Irish American Club in Everett in 1959.  Their relationship started out as the inspiration for the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding:” a story about a Greek woman who falls in love with a very non-Greek man; they secretly date over concerns that her family would not approve; and, these concerns were realized when her family learns of their relationship and intention to marry (which they did in 1960).  Of course, there was a happy ending to their story, as Bob won over Debbie’s family with his irrepressible charm and personality.  In actuality, it was more due to his obvious love for (and devotion to) his bride and her family.     

Bob and Debbie didn’t just happen to find the right partner in each other.  They were committed to being the right partner for each other; and it was this foundation upon which they began to build their life together with abounding love, trust and respect.  Their relationship would establish a beautiful standard of what they wanted for their family.  Bob and Debbie moved to Burlington and their forever home in 1965 with, by then, two young kids in tow and a dream for two Metro Boston city kids to establish a life in the suburbs for their family.

Bob loved his family with his entire being, and his love was always on full- display for all to see – even as his family grew beyond his and Debbie’s wildest dreams with three kids, their spouses, nine grandkids, ten great-grandkids, dogs and granddogs -- they were all the light of his life.  He genuinely took a vested interest in each of his children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s lives, and would go out of his way any chance he could to be involved in their lives and make them feel important and loved.  Bob and Debbie loved to use their home as the center of family gatherings, holidays and reunions over the years; at times bringing together their siblings, nieces and nephews despite their own large immediate family, just to reconnect the extended family all with large families of their own.  Bob shared his love of football; not only with his own son and grandsons, but also as a very successful (and loved) coach for many years in the Burlington Pop Warner program.  It was not unusual for boys who played in the 1970s to mid-1980s, now grown men, to see Bob out and about town and to tell him how much he meant to them.  His warm and friendly nature, and his ability to strike-up a conversation with anyone about anything, made him comfortable in any social situation and able to make a new friend every time he left the house. 

But “the thing of it is,” at Bob’s core was a man who was fiercely loyal and loving, who always had more and more loyalty and love to give, and was the rock of his family.  

Along with his dear wife Debbie, Bob is survived by: his children, Robert W. Marshall Jr. and his wife Kelly of Salem, NH; Lisa Armstrong and her husband James of Hampstead, NH; and, Stacey Mollica and her husband Ronald of Burlington; his grandchildren, Meghan Thone, Matthew Marshall, Allison Dyment, Michael Marshall, Rebecca Armstrong, Sofia Fodera, Giuseppe Mollica, Talia Mollica, and Daniella Mollica; his great-grandchildren, Gabriel Thone, Noah Thone, Caleb Thone, Aidan Thone, Brayden Brawn, Jack Dyment, George Marshall Dyment, Giuliana Fodera, Maisie Marshall, and Nathan Marshall; his brother, Thomas Marshall and his wife Margaret of Weymouth, as well as many other dear nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Bob was also the loving brother of the late Albert Marshall, Muriel Critch, and Francis Marshall.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours for Bob on Wednesday, November 13^th from 4 pm until 7 pm.  His funeral will begin at the funeral home on Thursday, November 14^th at 9 am with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10am at St. Margaret Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington.  Burial will immediately follow at Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.