Robert Carlton Gaynor

POCASSET — Robert Carlton Gaynor, 79, of Pocasset, died suddenly on Wednesday, May 19, at Falmouth Hospital, Falmouth.

Mr. Gaynor is survived by his wife, Paula Gaynor, four sons and daughter-in-laws; Bruce (Jan) Atlanta, Ga., Winn (Susan) Gaithersburg, Md., Phil (Jody) Chesapeake, Va., and Ken (Patty) Falmouth and 11 grandchildren; Erin Gaynor Marsh, and Lisa, Scott, Adam, David, Alison, Emily, Ethan, Olivia, Ryan and Rachael Gaynor.

Bob was born in New York, N.Y., on Aug. 22, 1930, to Hazel Call and Carlton Stowell both of Athol, Mass. He grew up in Melrose, Mass., and graduated from Brown University in 1952 with a degree in economics and was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy.

He earned a Masters in Business Administration from Western New England College, Springfield, Mass., in 1982, and regularly attended adult education classes at Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable, until his death. History was his favorite, he published a scholarly article on the Pocasset Iron Works in the Barnstable Patriot in 2008.

Mr. Gaynor held elected office on the planning board in the town of Wilbraham, Mass., and also served on the Zoning Board for the town of Bourne until his death.

He loved to race his Herreshoff 12 sailboat in Buzzards Bay, and will be remembered by many who enjoyed playing tennis, golf and bridge regularly with him.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2010, in the First Congregational Church, 68 Main St., Falmouth. The burial will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Robert's name may be made to the Rev. Nanette Geertz Memorial Scholarship, 68 Main St., Falmouth MA 02540.

For online guestbook, directions and obituary, please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.