Robert Wade Watson was at peace when he died from lung cancer on June 16, 2024, in his home, surrounded by family.

Robert, or Bobby or Bob was full of love, curiosity and optimism, which was apparent to everyone he met. He always had a big smile and warm hug for old friends and an outgoing personality that allowed him to make new ones easily.

Bob looked for "adventures" in every outing and found them through his travels around the world, on road trips with his children Max and Olivia, or on walks through the Fells. One of his favorite phrases was "Let's go this way" so he could "zig and zag" as loved to do. He walked for hours in a city, which led him to find that tucked-away terrific local restaurant, to play in a pick-up cricket game with local kids in India and locate Picasso's apartment in Paris. He was an engaging storyteller and relished sharing these stories with friends and family.

Bob was born in 1958 in Norwood, Massachusetts, and grew up between Walpole, Mass., and Garfield, Virginia. After high school, he attended Chapman University and then served in the Navy as a medic. While he was in the South Pacific, Bob was proud to bring onboard two boats of refugees, save a fellow seaman from being dragged overboard during a violent storm, and to swim in the deepest part of the ocean.

He spent his young adulthood living in Boston's South End, where he immersed himself in the city, dabbled in acting, and buzzed around in a little red sportscar. He loved doing the Sunday crossword puzzle over coffee with his dear friends in his building. He was a natural athlete, perfecting a beautiful golf swing, running alongside the Charles River, or ruling the tennis court.

He prioritized providing a home for his children during both of his marriages and cherished his time with them or "my guys", as he called them, picking them up after school, coaching Max's baseball team, and bringing them on adventures around New England. He loved them with all his heart.

Bob started his career at New England Life Insurance, where he made lifelong friends. He founded an Information Technology consulting firm and later was hired by State Street, where he launched one of the first technology labs in Boston. He had a long career with the bank and in recent years, traveled to Poland and lived in India where he established a new support organization for the global operations team.

Bob and his wife Leslie met in 2017 and quickly became devoted to each other. They found joy in even the simplest activities together such as taking their dog Nellie to nearby reservoirs, going to the beach to run football plays, and playing cards with Leslie's parents. They traveled as much as they could and tried to be more like travelers than tourists. They checked out supermarkets, ate at neighborhood restaurants, and shopped at little stores. They had a blast biking around Amsterdam, eating at the bar in Berlin, and finding the flea markets in Lisbon. Every trip, whether it was to New York City or Kerala, India, was full of laughs and new experiences.

Bob loved his children, Max and Olivia, and his wife, Leslie, and her daughter, Megan. A celebration in memory of Bob's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob's memory to North Shore Arts Association, where Bob volunteered, and where he and Leslie were married. Donate to North Shore Arts of Gloucester (nsarts.org). By mail: North Shore Arts Association, 11 Pirates Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. By phone: (978) 283-1857.