Robert K. Patterson Sr.

Robert K. Patterson Sr. of Norwood, formerly of Cambridge & Hull, passed away peacefully at home on January 24th, 2026. He is survived by his wife Ann (Flaherty) Patterson, his sons Bobby Jr. & Jamisean Patterson both of Cambridge & Hull, his daughters, Ann Martins of Cambridge & Siobhan Patterson of Cambridge & Norwood. Also survived by his brother Bill Patterson of Sharon. Robert was brought up by a single mother, Mary (Coiley) Patterson living in Corcoran Park a West Cambridge project.

Robert was last upset when a nun from St. John's Kindergarten made him use his right hand instead of his left to scribble with his crayon! Maybe, this is why, when he left St. John's, he spent his elementary years attending 4 other Cambridge schools! Rob rose through the Cambridge Boy Scouts, from Cub Scout to Boy Scout to eventually becoming an Eagle Scout.

While living in Cambridge, Rob grew up in Sacred Heart Parish, Watertown where he was a member of the CYO and also played on many CYO baseball and basketball teams, traveling to Connecticut for many championship tournaments. Robert graduated to Rindge Technical High School in Cambridge where he played sports and ran track in the state's championships. He served as Class Treasurer for one year and President of his class for two years. He then attended Wentworth Institute of Technology and Franklin Institute of Technology, both in Boston. Robert graduated with an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering.

He then signed up as a USA Army reservist, where he attended Topo Surveying School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia as a Spec-5. This stint took away his yearly vacations through his 1969's honorable discharge, at which time he and Ann had three children. She had received her BS in Ed and M of Ed and had her Cambridge teaching career before becoming Chief Accountant at the MA State Lottery, Charitable Gaming Division. Rob continued his education at Northeastern University, Lincoln College where he was awarded a Bachelor of Engineering Technology.

As an adult, Rob was a member of both Sacred Heart Parish in Watertown and later St. Peter Parish in Cambridge where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. He was a team coach for many years and then President of West Cambridge Little League baseball. Rob served on the Board of Cambridge Pop Warner football. During these times, Rob would often have a helmeted child on the back of his bicycle riding down to the field. The four children grew up going to the Arlington Boys' and Girls' Club and Rob would often be the dedicated driver, when he was home.

He provided 12 years of Catholic education for all his children, furthering his own moral values to them including Sacred Heart + St. Peter grammar schools and BC High, 2 at Mt. St. Joseph Academy and Arlington Catholic High. Rob was a volunteer for an annual Boy Scout-Pop Warner Christmas Eve. dinner, held mostly at The Salvation Army in Cambridge for 35+ yrs. He also participated in Patriots' Foundation charitable drives filling backpacks with school supplies or food bags for veterans or Christmas presents for poor children. Robert became an adult volunteer in Scouts. He served on the *Board of Directors of the Cambridge Boy Scout Council. Robert later became *Commissioner of the Cambridge Boy Scout Camp in Quinopoxit, NH, where his two Eagle Scout sons, Bobby and Jamisean, had attended.

Besides the Eagle Award, Robert was given the *Order of the Arrow Vigil Award and the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scout organization. Robert was a New England Patriot season-ticket holder, following the Boston team to multiple states here and to numerous countries overseas. After the Germany game, Jamisean and Robert traveled on to Paris and toured the almost-reconstructed Notre Dame Church! From there, they changed countries to visit family in County Clare, Ireland!

Bobby, Jr. has taken Robert, alone or with Bobby's friends, several times to visit all over Ireland, always ending up with a few days on the 'family' farm in Ennystymon, County Clare, Ireland. They have also done other trips, including to Rome, Italy. Rob enjoyed a couple of lunches with Cardinal Law in Rome on another trip. Robert took Siobhan to Pennsylvania to compete in basketball and escorted Siobhan and Ann (Jr.) to Ireland to compete in Irish dancing.

Over the years, he brought his daughters and sons to compete in Irish dancing at many Irish feiseanna in multiple states and to Canada. Rising real early for hockey, practice and games, occurred throughout these years, too. Robert was present for as many of his four kids' practices/games associated with basketball, soccer, softball, football, cross country track, swimming and baseball. He enjoyed being their #1 fan and cheering them on from the sidelines.

Robert worked for the City of Cambridge at the DPW as a Civil Engineer, for over 40 yrs. Here, he also served as liaison, both between the city and the handicapped and the city and its bicyclists. He kept his Star Market, part-time job for over 50 yrs!

When Rob was 70, he and Jamisean became Security Guards at Gilette Stadium, checking bags for items, now banned at sport events. Jamisean promised he would always be at his side during these checks! Later, he became a member of Hull and Norwood Senior Citizen Centers where, recalling how to play cribbage and whist, he enjoyed his new friends' company. Rob found his many casino trips with the seniors very entertaining, though not always profitable! Rob, so good-naturely, has shared his salaries every year as a paltry philanthropist. He left all of his animosity in kindergarten, later including many nuns in his charities!

Also, often, throughout the years the Hull house was lent to someone who just needed a safe place. Robert has disproven the myth that children who grow up poor, with a single mother, no father-figure and attending myriad elementary education facilities cannot become an incredibly respected success in life Rob achieved it all, while proudly practicing his Catholicism, respecting everyone he ever met, being the best Dad, always nurturing and loving his children, sharing all he had and being a dear devoted husband. Robert was surrounded by the love of his family, especially all four children, who spent Saturday with him. Robert and Ann just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 26th

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for visiting hours in the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home, 36 Trapelo Rd, Belmont, Thursday, January 29th, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter's Church, 100 Concord Ave, Cambridge, Friday, January 30th, at 10:00 AM. Interment will be held privately.