Bob left high school to join the United States Army in July of 1945. As part of the United States Occupation Forces stationed in Germany, he supervised and instructed fatigue and field duties and was a Duty Officer and Rifleman. He achieved the rank of Sergeant and received the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Bob was honorably discharged in July of 1948.
He married the love of his life Theresa Bolduc of Gilford, New Hampshire, on September 10, 1949. Their 56 years of devotion lasted until Theresa's death in November 2005. He worked for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation as a Traffic Signal Electrician retiring after 30 years of service in 1977.
Bob and Theresa moved to Waitsfield, VT, in 1981 into the house that he built. He retired in 2006 after 16 years as the Animal Control Officer for Waitsfield and Warren, VT. In January of this year the School Board of Newington, CT, awarded Bob his long awaited high school diploma.
A beekeeper for 50 years, Bob mentored many people interested in beekeeping. He was a member and past president of the Vermont Beekeeper's Association. He thoroughly enjoyed his weekly beekeeping radio show on WMRW in Warren and taped several television shows for the local television stations of the Mad River Valley and Laconia, NH.
A Mason for 56 years, he was raised in the Evening Star Lodge No. 101 in Farmington, CT, in 1951, and belonged to the Sequin Level Lodge No. 140 in Newington, CT. He was a Past Master of Mad River Lodge No. 77 F&AM of Waitsfield, VT, and a member of the Past Master's Association of the Grand Lodge of Vermont. For the past 27 years he was a member of the United Church of Christ in Waitsfield, VT. A member of the American Legion for 43 years he was a Past Commander of Newington Chapter May-Davis Stotzer Post #117, and Past Commander of American Legion #75 of Waitsfield, VT.
Bob loved the out-of-doors. He had a profound knowledge of the woods and creatures that lived there. He enjoyed fishing, and deer and woodchuck hunting. Bob spent many hours in his woodshed creating barrettes, spoons, insulator lamps and his bow ties, and could often seen at Mad River Green Farmers' Market in Waitsfield selling his wares. He was an avid skier and longtime member and past president of the Hartford Ski Club. Bob enjoyed gardening and planted a large vegetable garden, and derived great pleasure from his blueberry and raspberry patches. He loved to read and had an extensive knowledge of the Civil War and Arctic Exploration. Bob loved music and was often heard whistling a favorite tune and the CD player was always playing one of his favorite albums.
Bob is survived by his three daughters: the Rev. Denise D. Tracy and her husband William Decker of Elgin, IL; Roberta S. Tracy and her partner Dan Boomhower of Montpelier, VT; Carol E. Tracy and her fiancé Alex Goff of Newington, CT; six grandchildren: Scott Petrovits, Jennifer Silver and her husband Damion, Rikki Tracy, Tracy Chavez and her husband George, Clarke Li Decker Tracy, and Kyle Decker; two great grandsons Maximus Chavez and Zuri Silver; his sister Carol Tracy and many other family members. He is predeceased by his sister Isabelle Christen, his brother Richard G. Tracy, and his nephews Richard N. Tracy and William Tracy. The family would like to thank the Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice who provided him with loving care.
A Memorial Service and Masonic Service celebrating Bob's life will be held on Sunday, November 18, 2007, at 1 p.m. at the Waitsfield United Church of Christ, Route 100, Waitsfield, VT. Interment will take place at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Gilford, NH, at a date that will be announced later. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Freemasonry Scholarship Program, 49 East Road, Barre, VT 05641. The Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury is assisting the family. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
