Robert P. Hedden

Wellesley Island, NY – We bid farewell to our cherished Robert P. Hedden, Sr., of Hutch’s Haven Drive, who passed away Friday morning at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, NY, due to Metastatic Melanoma.

He was born on September 5, 1936, in Scranton, PA, the son of Walter D. and Stella T. Delesky Hedden.   Robert’s life was marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and excellence. He graduated from Scranton Central High School, Scranton University, and then from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

On October 8, 1960, he married Louise Dempsey in Scranton, PA. They raised their three children in Endicott, NY, and began spending weekends and summers at their cottage on Wellesley Island in 1978, ultimately settling there year-round in 1999. His beloved wife, Louise, passed away on June 6, 2017 and remained Bob's spirit and guiding light even during her absence.

Bob’s professional life of 27 years was marked by distinction for IBM in Endicott, NY, in CAD/CAM Marketing. He authored a textbook, "Cost Engineering in Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing". In 1987 he embarked on a new second career as an Owner and Certified Financial Planner with Ameriprise for 17 fruitful years, anchored in Johnson City, NY.

Yet amidst his professional life Bob was an avid recognized and awarded artist and painter.  His inspiration came from the Thousand Islands, NY, and Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks. "He said, the only thing Saranac Lake has better than the Thousand Islands are the mountain ranges" and "You can’t beat the beauty of the lakes and rivers until you put that big mountain behind it." He also did a large body of work from his international travels, which included special trips with his daughter Mary, she would hike and explore new adventurous areas for her dad to paint during their travels.

His Studio on Wellesley Island became a sanctuary of creativity along with his online website at FineartAmerica.com, and even paintings on the walls of his corporate office. He was often called on to create a specific piece of art to humanize a business situation or commemorate a marriage. He always took art materials on his travels and did many onsite paintings and sketches over his lifetime which he treasured these more than photos. In 2009, he founded the Plein Air Painters of the Thousand Islands Region (PAPTIR) to promote painting outdoors, and he chronicled his artistic journey online at 1000islandspaintings.blogspot.com. Plein Air Art Festivals were one of his favorite places to inspire his creativity and he continued attending in spite of ongoing health issues into August of 2023.

Bob had 19 Art Exhibitions between 2009 and 2014 and received 17 Awards for his breathtaking and inspiring paintings between 2014 and 2023.

Bob’s Professional Affiliations Galleries were: Sackets Harbor Art Gallery, Sackets Harbor, N.Y. (Art Association of Northern NY-AANNY), North Country Arts Council, Watertown, NY; Central NY Watercolor Society, Breakwater Gallery, Cape Vincent, NY.

You can visit Bob’s sketching memories and artworks; we were very proud, and he was very pleased with this recognition from the art community: https://tilife.org/BackIssues/Archive/tabid/393/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/779/Sketching-Memories-Robert-Hedden-Artist.html.

He enjoyed diverse hobbies, most notably sailing and traveling. Bob was dedicated to his faith throughout his life; from his frequent altar service in childhood living next door to his church to his most recent pilgrimage to Quito, Ecuador, in January 2023, for the Novena of Our Lady of Good Success.

He is survived by his loving, caring and caretaking daughter, Mary and her husband Eric Scheffield, Binghamton, NY; a brother, Ronald and wife Sharon Hedden, Clark’s Green, PA; and three grandchildren.

Besides his loving wife, Louise, he was predeceased by two sons, Robert P. Hedden, Jr., and Walter J. Hedden, and a brother, Walter D. Hedden.

In honoring Bob’s life, we extend an invitation to celebrate his legacy, to be held on Tuesday, April 9th, from 3-5 pm at the Costello Funeral Home in Alexandria Bay, NY. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, April 10th, at 10 am at St. Cyril’s Church, Alexandria Bay. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Wellesley Island.

Memorial donations may be made in Bob’s name to upstatefoundation.org or the American Cancer Society. The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation for the exceptional care provided to Bob by Upstate University and The Cancer Center, Syracuse, NY.