Donald B. Robertson was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, on July 12, 1941. He was the youngest of three. He was predeceased by his sister, Virginia Arndt; and brother, George Robertson. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Bobbi; three daughters and their husbands, Jill Olausson and Robert Seaman, Patricia and Doug Hartnett, and Julie and Lee St. Louis; and his grandchildren, Annie and husband Dan Kolbe, Toby Olausson, Andrew and Chelsea Hartnett, and Ashley and Cameron St. Louis.
Don graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1963. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and attended ROTC while getting his civil engineering degree. He spent his time in the Army in Greenland, after which he came back to Massachusetts to work for Daniel O’Connell’s Sons in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
He was a project manager for the bridge over the Merrimack River in Newburyport. The family then settled in Newburyport for the next 22 years, developing deep friendships and active social lives. Don coached his daughters’ softball teams, played weekly tennis with the Low Profile Tennis Group, and was a member of the Dalton Club.
When it was time for retirement, he and Bobbi would spend the winters in Florida and the summers at their home on Orr’s Island. Don became very involved in the Orr’s-Bailey Yacht Club, serving as director of the sailing school and as a member of the board of directors. He was well known for his easygoingness and willingness to help with whatever needed to be done. Nobody could tell a better joke than Don.
His grandchildren are forever thankful for the 10 summers they spent on Orr’s Island with Bobbi and Don while participating in the sailing school, first as students and then as instructors. He would often go up on their lunch hour to spend time with them and just see how they were doing.
Even when he had Parkinson’s disease for the last 15 years of his life, he retained a sense of humor and was deeply grateful for the help that many gave him. His family is likewise grateful for all the caregivers that have been a part of their lives.
He is missed by his family and friends.
