Robert Spiro

Robert Spiro 1938 - 2025

After a well-lived life, Robert (Bob) Louis Spiro died at his childhood home in Falmouth, MA of mesothelioma on Sunday, March 16, 2025 surrounded by the woman he loved and the daughters he adored. He was 87 years of age.

Born on Wednesday, February 19, 1938 in Boston Massachusetts, was the son of the late Louis Spiro born in Katundi, Albania and Veronica (Croasdell) Spiro born in Boston, Massachusetts.

In his childhood, Bob lived in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

His love for the ocean started when Bob was 10, working on a floating shack at the entrance to Great Pond selling fishing bait.

His love for horses started when he would follow the horse drawn carriage delivering milk throughout his neighborhood.

While he was a teenager, Bob lived and worked for the late Dick and Ruth Sprague at Knollwood Stables caring for their horses and guiding trail rides.

In 1956, he graduated from Falmouth High School and enlisted to serve his country in the US Navy from 1956 to 1960 as a 2nd class Petty Officer aboard the USS Newman K. Perry and USS Coolbaugh traveling the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Bob was employed at Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston, initially working in the kennels then moved up to surgery assisting in the operating room.

In the Spring of 1961, he met the love of his life, Nancy. They married in 1963 and moved to Newburyport, MA.

In 1968 he joined his father's distributorship business on Martha's Vineyard but they had difficulty adapting to island living and decided to move back to Newburyport.

Then in 1971 on a whim he took a career change to work with horses at Auburn Farms in Georgetown. He obtained his horseback riding instructor's license.

He made another career change. Bob became a salesman at Burner Supply Plumbing and Heating company. After 20 years of designing heating and cooling systems for business and homeowners, he studied the pages of Chapman Piloting and Seamanship book and obtained his Captains license. He incorporated "Private Charters" a fishing charter boat business out of Newburyport. Bob became an instructor at Boatwise, teaching students marine safety. He was also a Captain on many private pleasure boats up and down the east coast.

In 2005, Bob and Nancy moved to Bob's home where he grew up. In the summer months, he was the assistant Harbormaster in Falmouth.

Then every fall he departed Falmouth harbor on their trawler, Rachel J (designed and built by family member, late Joe Young,). With his wife and first mate Nancy by his side, they cruised the Eastern seaboard between New England and Florida and for many years they dropped anchor off the coast of Key West.

Bob never retired. Just months before his death, you could find him digging quahogs, teaching his students riding lessons, taking horses to the fair, caretaking the 37-acre homestead estate, traveling cross country to visit his grandchildren, or sitting on the shoreline of Falmouth Heights beach with his whistle, collecting beach glass and watching Nancy swim.

Bob will be remembered for his love of his family, kind and gently spirit and a legacy of joy and connection.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nancy of East Falmouth; daughters Kimberly Spiro and partner Benet Sommers of East Boston and Kelly and husband Stephen Bradbury of Newburyport.

Bob was a devoted grandfather to Jared, Trevor and Owen Bradbury and great granddaughter Vivienne Bradbury.

Bob also leaves his sisters, Lois Robblee and Gail Protopapas and brothers Jim (Sue) and Phil (Kathy) Spiro along with several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are cordially invited to Bob's Memorial to celebrate his life at the Flying Bridge Restaurant, Falmouth MA on Saturday April 12 at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Funny Farm 416 Carriage Shop Rd. East Falmouth, MA 02536 or Venmo @MelissaSPurdy