Rev. Robert Couto, 68, of Londonderry, NH, was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord, Wednesday December 10, 2014 in his home in Londonderry. He was born in New Bedford, MA on June 30, 1946, a son of the late Manuel and M. Gilda (Duarte de Mello) Couto. He had been a resident of Londonderry for the past 15 years, formerly living in Manchester, NH and New Bedford.
Prior to attending seminary, Fr. Bob worked at Texas Instruments in Attleboro, MA. He also worked as a broadcast journalist for a New Bedford, MA station, where he interviewed Rep. Hastings Keith and subsequently became his assistant, working in the congressional district, and in Washington DC. He later moved to Nashua, NH where he became a manager for Karten Jewelers. His experience with technology was then used at Ferrofluidics in Nashua where he became Vice President for Operations and Administration, ultimately working to make the company a publically traded entity on Wall Street. Called to a different kind of life, Fr. Bob discerned and applied to study to become a Roman Catholic priest and was assigned by the Diocese of Manchester to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. While in Baltimore, he earned a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from the Holy See and a Master’s degree in Divinity. He worked as an intern and Deacon at Saint Joseph Parish, Cockeysville, MD. Fr. Bob also did special studies in medical ethics and health care ethics, publishing papers on the care of the sick and the dying.
He was ordained a priest on June 1, 1996 by the Most Reverend Leo E. O’Neil, S.T.D., at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester. Fr. Couto studied at Leslie College and the Northeast Institute of Indiana Tech and completed his ecclesiastical studies at Saint Mary Seminary & University in Baltimore, MD. Fr. Couto served as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Nashua; Sainte Marie and Sacred Heart Parishes in Manchester. Fr. Couto was appointed pastor of Saint Jude Parish in Londonderry in 1999 where he served until his death.
Fr. Bob is the brother of Marlene Russell and her husband Michael of Brockton, MA; the uncle of Monica Russell of New York City, NY, Melissa Herschman and her partner Jason Meeker of N. Easton, MA, and Michele Harrington and her husband Ryan of N. Easton, MA; as well as the great uncle of Morgan, Jake and Emma Harrington, and Max and Tess Herschman.
On Monday, December 15th the Rite of Reception of the Body, led by Rev. Albert Tremblay, Jr., took place at St. Jude Church, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. Fr. Couto lied in state in the Church from 2 – 8pm concluding with Evening Prayer led by Very Rev. Frederick J. Pennett, Jr., Dean of the Rockingham Deanery. On Tuesday, Fr. Couto lied in state at St. Jude Church from 9:30 – 11am. The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, presided at a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. Additional calling hours were held on Wednesday at the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St., New Bedford, MA from 10am – 12:30pm, followed by The Rite of Committal at 1:00pm in St. John's Cemetery in New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fr. Robert Couto Memorial Fund, C/O St. Jude Parish, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry, NH 03053. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium of Derry and Londonderry is assisting the family with arrangements.
**Overflow parking will be provided at Peabody Funeral Home, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry with a shuttle bus provided to St. Jude Church during the calling hours.