Robert Joseph (Bob) Denny, 70, a 35 year resident of West Boylston, MA died on December 23, 2016 after an extended illness. He passed away peacefully at home together with his family.
Bob was born in Brookline, MA on 9/30/1946, the son of F. Edmund (Ed) Denny and Dorothy Fearon Denny, now both deceased. He is survived by his daughter Sarah Denny Golab and her husband Adam Denny Golab, of Salem, MA; by a brother Peter E. Denny of Sudbury, MA; a sister Nancy Denny Roche of Marlborough, MA; and 2 nephews, David Roche of Marlborough, MA, and Jeffrey Roche and his wife Jennifer of Arlington, MA. He was devoted to his partner of ten years, Laurel Perkins, formerly of Acton, MA. Family and friends always came first in his life.
Bob attended the Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge, where he was a 2-sport captain. He went on to teach woodworking at Buckingham, Browne and Nichols. He then served in the Navy before attending UMass, Amherst. He obtained an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Michigan.
Bob was employed as a high school guidance counselor at Oakmont Regional H.S. in Westminster, MA for 26 years.
In his youth, he spent 6 months soul-searching on Dominica in the British West Indies. He was admired for his humor, his humility, his gift for listening, and his compassion for the less fortunate. Bob had a passion for woodworking, and was employed as a creator of fine hardwood furniture. He was a hard worker, a jack-of-all trades and a master of most. Bob loved to travel, the outdoors and rock music. Into his 50’s, he continued to play hockey and enjoyed sports of all kinds.
Interment services will be private, to be followed in the springtime by a “Celebration of Life” ceremony. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Lung Association (www.lung.org), New England Center for Homeless Veterans (www.nechv.org), and the Jewish Health Care Hospice Program of Worcester (www.jewishhealthcare.com/donations.)