Robert Pearson Whittier
October 5, 1924 - January 11, 2017


HAMILTON/Wenham - Whittier, Robert died peacefully on January 11, 2017. He was born in Beverly and grew up in Wenham. He lived for 25 years in St. Louis, MO before returning to Hamilton. He married his childhood sweetheart Sally Porter from Hamilton in 1945 and shared 66 years of marriage. They had a son and a daughter.

A veteran of World War II and Korea, he was a Navy pilot with a rank of lieutenant and flew torpedo dive bombers. He was employed by Monsanto Company for over 30 years where he was an executive in the nylon division. As a young engineer he was the project manager at the House of the Future, an iconic home on display in Disneyland for 10 years. He received degrees from Middlebury College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After retirement he continued the family tradition in education as a member of the school committee in Hamilton from 1986 to 1998, especially involved in the building of the new secondary school. He remained active and interested in many local and national affairs all his life.

A lifelong athlete, Robert enjoyed spending time with friends and family skating, skiing, and playing tennis and golf, as well as (finally) savoring the success of the Sox. He also was an avid reader and traveler, participating in book clubs and travels abroad.

His wife, Sally, predeceased Robert in 2011. Among Robert’s family members who survive him are half-sister Sally Anne Malloy, Columbia, MO; son John Whittier of Hamilton, MA; daughter Nina and Bob McCarthy of Geneva, NY; and Whittier grandchildren John and Taylor, CO, and Austin, CA; and McCarthy grandchildren Daniel (Nichole), FL, Katelin, NY, and Caroline, CA. He was predeceased by his father John and mother Nina, stepmother Florentina, brother Cecil, and sisters Marjorie and Ruth. Bob enjoyed the friendship of an amazing and large core of relatives and friends throughout his life.

A memorial service will be held on March 18 at 1:30 PM, Christ Church, Asbury St., Hamilton, MA with a reception immediately following. Memorial Contributions may be made to Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, Attn. Treasurer, 5 School Street. Wenham, MA 01984 Robert P. Whittier Science Memorial Fund. Online condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com .