On Sunday, July 18, 2021, Robert M. Whittemore, Jr., aged 66, gently passed away at his Goshen home surrounded by his family.
Born May 27,1955, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Bob was still a young child when his family relocated to New Jersey and eventually settled in the Town of Ridgewood.
Throughout his adolescent and teenage years, Bob embraced his passion for the outdoors and everything it offered. He loved all-season camping, fishing, hiking, spelunking, and he was an avid lacrosse player. He was also a committed member of the Boy Scouts of America, eventually mastering the exceptionally difficult challenges associated with the rank of Eagle Scout.
After entering Ridgewood High School, he became a saxophone player in the marching band, and upon graduation, Bob continued his education at The State University of NY at Oswego. His degree in Industrial Arts and Technology propelled him towards his diverse and distinguished career in product design and development. As a Mechanical Engineer, Bob’s proudest achievement was his accumulation of 19 patents, four of which are medical devices currently in use. He was also a designer for many high end cosmetic and fragrance companies such as Revlon, Avon, Coty and Max Factor.
His most notable achievement in this field involved a commission from The House of Bijan to design the Michael Jordan Cologne bottle released in 1996.
He also worked in the toy/game industry, introducing the new technology for The Super Soaker.
Aside from his full family and professional life, Bob also served as a minister in New York City with Times Square Church, functioning as a founding member of their IMPACT youth group, and later, as a non-denominational Senior Pastor in Liberty.
Besides being the drummer in a worship band, he also ran a well-stocked food and clothing pantry that was always open to any member of the community.
In his active years, Bob loved winter sports, especially skiing. However, in the summer months, his passion was boating, and as a boat owner, he took every opportunity to engage in water skiing, tubing, and both lake fishing and deep sea fishing. He loved being on the open water while listening to his favorite band, “Genesis.”
During his later years, Bob developed an addiction to the game of golf and made many new friends on the green. When he was inside, he continued to hone his military knowledge, specifically the campaigns of WWII.
Bob leaves behind his beloved wife of 39 years, Kim (Doherty) Whittemore, at home; his daughter, Rachel Whittemore and her partner, Lucas Tanner, of Middletown, his son, Robert III and his wife Krista (Goldstein) Whittemore, of Clemmons, N.C.; and his adored grandson/Star-Craft teammate Connor Logan Dellaporte of Middletown. Bob also leaves behind his beloved brother and friend, Brad Whittemore, his sister-in-law Laura (Mayle) Whittemore, his nephew, Kyle Whittemore, all of Mountain Lakes, N.J., his deeply respected brother-in-law, Kevin Doherty, of West Nyack; and the special woman he referred to as “his second daughter,” Liz Bellnier, of Middletown. He will be missed by many friends and an extended family consisting of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws,
Last, but not least, he leaves behind his beloved cat, “Buddy,” a stray kitten who took up residence in Bob’s man-cave after Bob nursed him back to health.
Bob led an extraordinary, if unconventional, life. He had no fear in reaching for his dreams, and he often realized them. His confidence was infectious and his intelligence was obvious. He was a creative genius who wanted to do even more inventing and designing before he was afflicted with a protracted and painful illness. He remained an encouragement to his family during this troubling time, and his optimism never waned.
With crushed spirits, we embrace the essence of this unique and irreplaceable man and say, “Sleep well, for now, kindred spirit. The best is yet to come.”
We are grateful to the myriad of health care workers, technicians, doctors, nurses, and hospice workers who were positive forces during the course of his illness and at its inevitable conclusion.