Robert A. Brindley

Robert A. Brindley SCITUATE Robert Aaron (Bob) Brindley, 66, of Scituate died peacefully in his home on Monday, October 26th, 2009 surrounded by the love and comfort of his devoted family. He was educated at Needham High School, Huntington Prep., Boston University and Northeastern University and Human Engineering Lab. He was an Eagle Scout at the age of 14 years and also a member of DeMolay. Loved to travel, sail, golf, skiing and history buff. Bob worked at GTE Sylvania on the Minuteman Missile System. He retired from Raytheon, a Government Weapons Contractor, after 30 years and worked extensively with the Air Force and Navy, including; Poseidon, NATO Sea Sparrow, Patriot, Tomahawk, Air Traffic Control and Apollo programs. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 yrs. Donna Stacy Brindley, children Dawn, Scott, Erin and Sean and three granddaughters Heather, Diana and Iyslen. Leaves his mother, Natalie Burrell Brindley of Andover, MA and Sister Cynthia (Gay) of NH. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7th at the First Parish Unitarian Church, 330 First Parish Road, Scituate, MA. Memorial contributions may be made to First Parish Unitarian Church, 330 First Parish Road, Scituate, MA 02066.

 

 

Thank you all for joining us today and sharing memories of our Dad.

 

I can tell you Dad was a fighter. He held strong during his last days. If you had asked him how he prolonged his life these last few years he would say it was his one shot of Vodka on the rocks and 2 aspirin every night that cured his pain.  He really believed that held off the cancer.

 

Our Mother was remarkable in caring for him. She certainly was his beloved beyond any question of a doubt.

 

If you new my Dad he never took No for an answer. He was a great negotiator, and always wanted to prove, argue and debate. He persevered. I just recently thought he should have been a politician. He was an intense person. To accomplish anything effectively took time and effort. He would put everything into any project.  Just like he took charge of his life battling his cancer. He wanted control. He didn’t want to do what the doctors suggested, he had to research and figure out what he wanted. Apparently what he did was right as it extended his life for 15 yrs.

 

Some things you may not have know about him. History was a passion, that of Napoleon and The Knights Templar. He was a big fan of Indiana Jones and James Bond flicks. He loved Spanish guitar music, Reggae music, the composer Grieg. He had an appreciation for art and enjoyed creating and wearing his costumes at our Halloween parties. He skied, sailed and loved the beach. He followed the stock market daily. Most of all he enjoyed working in the outdoors. We recently, on Columbus Day weekend, went up to our family house in Vermont. We were amazed he made it up there in his condition. He asked me what I wanted to do when he was up there and I turned the question around and asked him what he would like to do. He said clean up the yard “cut and stack wood” That’s what I would like to do. That was 2 weeks before his passing.  He loved yard sales and Greenbush plaza (for those of you who are not from Scituate, Greenbush Plaza refers to the take it or leave it at the town dump). He was always proud of his trinket and what he paid for it, or got for free. There was one time though, he drove by a house that had boxes all over their front yard, which he thought was a yard sale and was early for the best selection. Then a voice came out “Get out of here you old geezer”. They were moving.

 

One my fondest memories as a child, was when I would sit on the hamper and we would talk while he shaved to get ready for work. I was probably 3 or 4 yrs. I also thought it touching about eight years ago when I got into my car in the early hours to go to work and there on my windshield was a small Valentine filled with chocolates.  And in July, when he was not feeling well, he stopped by my house with a birthday card with an invitation for “a spa” which meant trying out their hot tub. He and Mom prepared balloons and wine for me.  

 

There was something he instilled upon me as a child and that was ambition and perseverance. He taught me nothing is impossible. Think positive.  If you want something, go for it. You will find a way. That was how I went to college, lived in Hawaii and Seattle and obtained my investment license.

 

For dad, planning every vacation trip was a project. But he certainly made our childhood camping vacations interesting. They were very similar to National Lampoon’s Vacation.

 

As we grew older we became closer. He and I would joke with each other and have fun. I remember when he visited me in Hawaii. He asked me to introduce him as my brother. They all believed us. Mom and Dad traveled to distant places.  He once took Mom, Spencer and me sailing in the USVI, where we snorkeled every day. On one of our snorkels, I abandoned him to a 6-foot game Barracuda. I don’t think he forgave me for that one. Dive buddies are supposed to stick together. But it was his own fault. He didn’t want to pay the money to get corrective lenses in his dive mask and to save money he glued a pair of his old prescription eyeglass lenses into his mask. While snorkeling, the lens fell out. I saw the barracuda and I called him and tried to grab his fin but no luck. He swam right up to the barracudas tail and followed him broad side until he was about 5 inches away looking him in the eye. I didn’t stay. I was on the beach when he peeked his head out of the water. I don’t mind sharks, but Barracuda somehow are a different story. 

 

Mexico was another fun trip, where we played a new sport called donkey polo and went scuba diving. France was an adventure traveling to the wine cellars in Burgundy and the twisty turny Napoleon highway.

 

He also arranged our family trip at a villa in St. John where we adopted a dog thanks to my brother in law.  Rich said the dog followed him home. Nobody got sleep that night as the dog cried and wined all night.

 

My father gave us many fun adventures together.

 

With the adventures also came the daily frustrations of life, but through it all, he was there for us. He would travel to work in NH and still make the time to help with homework. Dad loved his family. He always kept involved in our daily lives. He and Mom were always there to help in any way. We never had to ask. He would call me every day to see what we were doing and discuss the stock market.   I miss his phone calls.

 

When I was young, Grammy said many times that all Dad wanted when he was a young boy was to get married and have a family. As a man he accomplished that. He loved us very, very much; and we loved him. I think he fulfilled what he wanted from life. We were a family, and we were there for him at his side until the end. 

 

Rest in peace Dad. I love you and I miss you.

 

 

PS He enjoyed golf.