Robert A. Brown, 86, of Mattapoisett, MA, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2024, after a short illness.
Bob spent his childhood between Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was born and Massachusetts, attending grade school in Mattapoisett and high school in Fairhaven. When his family settled for good in Indianapolis, he spent summers by himself in Mattapoisett, teaching sailing and finding fun and adventures in Buzzards Bay.
He graduated from Brown University, Providence, RI., married his first wife, Sarah (Rose), and settled in Mattapoisett for good in 1966. Bob worked for many years as an engineer for different companies including Sippican Company, Marion, and Acushnet Company (Titleist); he holds many patents for his unique inventions. Most recently, he had been advancing his theories on brain function utilizing his Spike Timing Principles.
Bob loved sailing and tennis. He spent his childhood at the beach and on the water, learning to sail from Polly Storrow, who rented him a room during his teens, allowing him to spend summers in Mattapoisett. He pursued his passion for tennis at the Mattapoisett Casino, where he cared for the clay courts and continued to play well into his 80s. He loved riding bicycles; his “twin” Schwinn transported the whole family with front and back child seats. He designed his own bikes and rode a recumbent along the new bike paths in town. He enjoyed walking to the beach and beyond, recently using his new walking sticks.
His passion for the beach was evident over many years, and he spent countless hours restoring Cannonville Beach to manage road runoff. He planted grasses that protected the beach from erosion. Bob was a thoughtful person and spent many hours in conversations on his porch with friends, debating all manner of interesting topics and scientific theories.
He is survived by his son, Christopher T. Brown of Marion, MA, and his daughter, Sandy E. Panek (Jeff) of RI and two grandchildren, Justin J. Panek and Nicole E. Panek, as well as nieces Jennifer Brown (Robert Ziegler), Alice Brown, and nephew Nathaniel Brown. He is predeceased by his parents, Harold James, and Marie (Harbor) Brown and his brother James Harold Brown and sister-in-law Dorothy (Swanton) Brown, as well as his first wife Sarah Brown.
He will also be remembered by his second wife, Marie Anderson (div.) and the sons, Christian and Michael, of his longtime companion, the late Christine Bertrand.
Services will be private. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com