Dr. Robert J. Montano

Dr. Robert J. Montano, 62, of Paxton, MA left this world on February 11, 2010 at home, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous year long battle with cancer.

He leaves his wife, of 18 years, Carolyn (McMurry) Montano; his daughter, Jennifer Gemme her husband Richard Gemme, and his grandson, Riley Gemme of Lunenburg, MA, and his daughter, Erin Boudreau and her husband Thomas Boudreau of Warren, MA.

Robert was born in Cambridge, MA, the only child of the late Joseph and Eva (DiMaio) Montano. He spent his childhood in Framingham, MA. His education was very important to him and proudly included: an Associates Degree in Art from Dean Junior College; a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Miami in Florida; a Masters Degree and CAGS in Counseling Psychology at Assumption College; and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Antioch New England Graduate School.

Dr. Montano's life long purpose involved using his gift of intuition and his ability to offer others compassion and guidance towards improving their lives through his work as: Director of Rehabilitation Services at Monson State Hospital; Guidance Counselor at North Brookfield High School; Psychotherapist in the inpatient Psychiatry unit at Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital; Psychometrician at the House of Affirmation; Psychotherapist/Psychometrician at Hubbard Region Hospital, the Child Psychiatry Unit at Marlborough Hospital and Lipton Mental Health Center; Psychologist at Boston Road Clinic; Coordinator of Psychological Services at the Saint Vincent Hospital Psychiatry Unit; and most recently in Private Practice for Apogee Integrated Mental Health Services.

His publications and research with his close friend, Dr. Young, included: Decreasing Anxiety and Improving Written Output with Learning Disabilities and A New Hypnobehavioral Method for Treatment of Children with Tourette's Disorder. Dr. Montano's Doctoral Dissertation was a Cognitive-Interpersonal Model of Therapists' Perception and Bias. And, he and Dr. Young were honored by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, with the Crasilneck Award.

Bob loved spending most of his free time in the great outdoors. He spent many weekends on his Nauset Sport Fishing Boat along the coast of the North Shore. He also enjoyed fishing from his canoe on Brooks Pond. The past seven years he spent weekends and vacations landscaping his beautiful yard, which one neighbor compared to Moore State Park. And, being of Italian descent, Bob loved to cook, much to the delight of his family and friends.

He was a caring, compassionate and genuine person who will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.

We would like to thank our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers for all of their love and support.

A special thank you to Dr. Neil Cannon his personal friend and physician of 34 years; all of the doctors, nurses, supporting staff and volunteers of Umass Memorial Hospice, Mass General Hospital and Umass Memorial Hospital for all of their wonderful care.

A "Celebration of Life" Memorial Service will be held at Tower Hill Botanical Garden 11 French Drive, Boylston, Ma (www.towerhillbg.org)

on Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 6:00pm, with a reception to follow until 9:30pm. All are welcome to attend.

Donations in loving memory of Dr. Robert Montano may be made to the: Head and Neck Research Fund for Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma at Mass General Hospital, c/o Development Office 165 Cambridge St. Ste# 600 Boston, MA 02114.

To place an on-line condolence, please visit

www.Mercadantefuneral.com