Gilford-----Robert Henry Castellon, also known as Bob Wilson, “The Voice of the Bruins”, 85, of Gilford, NH passed away on January 15, 2015 after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
Bob was born March 9, 1929 in Stoneham, MA, the son of Henry Elwyn and Louise (Wilson) Castellon. He grew up in Arlington, MA, attending the Arlington School system, graduating from Arlington High School in 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving three years, stationed at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, AZ. He served as an airplane instrument mechanic and was honorably discharged in June 1949.
He married the love of his life, Nancy E. Sargent on Thanksgiving Day in 1950, in Arlington, MA. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage.
Bob attended Boston University, transferring to Leland Powers School of
Radio, Television and Theatre in Boston and graduated in June 1952 as Vice-President of his class. As the top candidate in his class, Bob was offered a job in Crowley, Louisiana in 1952. This served as the beginning of his long and illustrious career in broadcasting. He was a staff announcer for KSIG and KLFY in Lafayette LA, in addition to broadcasting minor league baseball, Golden Glove boxing, high school football and basketball. Bob continued his career in Baton Rouge as a rock and roll disc jockey.
Returning to the Boston area in 1957, Bob was a Top 40 DJ at WCOP. Needing to have a two-syllable name to fit the stations’ jingles, Bob assumed his mother’s maiden name of Wilson and became Bob Wilson. In 1962, Bob moved to WHDH in Boston and his 30-year association with the Boston Bruins began in 1964. Except for two years spent in St. Louis as the KMOX television sports director, Bob was the “Voice of the Bruins” from 1967 until his retirement in 1995. Bob’s distinctive booming voice, descriptive powers and knowledge of hockey painted a vivid picture of the game for his listeners. Bob prided himself on calling a game with fairness, not necessarily objectivity. He never missed a game in his career, which including exhibitions, preseason and playoffs means some 3,000 games. A legendary icon in the business, Bob was the consummate professional, mentor, teacher and role model for generations of hockey enthusiasts. For several years, Bob provided the play-by-play for the Beanpot tournaments in Boston. A savvy business man, Bob started Bob Wilson Productions and was the spokesman for South Boston Savings Bank for 21 years, and did various commercials, voice-overs, industrials and served on the local board of American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
Wilson was founder and first president of the NHL Broadcaster’s Association and voted the “Best Radio Sports Play By Play” twice by Boston Magazine. Earning the highest honors in his field, Wilson was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto with the Foster Hewitt Award, the Massachusetts Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame and the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame. One of Bob’s proudest moments was the naming of the radio broadcast booth, “The Bob Wilson Radio Booth” in his honor at the TD Garden in Boston in 2011.
Bob was a wonderful husband and father and loved his family dearly. His main goal in life was to provide them with the best and happiest life that he was capable of, and often worked several extra jobs to accomplish this. By keeping the family name of Castellon for his family, he provided his children with the privacy that enabled them to lead a normal, happy life growing up in Belmont, MA. He was very proud of all of his three children, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
Bob’s hobbies included 15 years in the Senior Bowling League, golfing, boating on Lake Winnipesaukee, as well as creating and maintaining beautiful gardens and landscapes. Bob and Nancy’s gardens were a featured stop on local garden tours. Bob enjoyed following all sports on both radio and television.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy E. (Sargent) Castellon, of Gilford, his children, Linda Tucker and her husband Leo of Montour Falls, NY, his son William Castellon and his wife Nancy of Kittery, ME, his daughter Patti Hines of Laconia, NH; his grandchildren Jennifer Cilley, Timothy Tucker, Michael Castellon, Rebecca Castellon, Robert T. Castellon, Susanna Hines Mack and Betsey Hines Wilder; his great grandchildren, Kyle Ellsworth, Michael, Dawson and Sierra Verdegaal, Brianna and Kevin Hoessli-Tucker and Ellie Tucker, Rozalyn Mack and Derek Wilder; his great-great granddaughter, Aubrey Ellsworth.
Bob was pre-deceased by his parents and his sister, Margaret and her husband, George Dalrymple. One sister, Brenda Cox of Arlington, MA, and many nieces and nephews survive him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Boston Bruins Foundation (100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114) or the Bob Wilson Memorial Scholarship for Communications c/o Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 7312, Gilford, NH 03247-7312.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, NH at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 24, 2015. A reception will follow the service.
A spring burial is planned in the Wixson Memorial Garden, Gilford NH.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.