Robert E “Bob” Drew Sr, 73, of Methuen passed away peacefully at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, MA on Saturday morning with his family by his side after a 17 month courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer.
Born and raised in Methuen, Bob graduated from Methuen High School in 1956. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Kearsarge for four years. Bob was employed at Western Electric, was an assistant treasurer of Arlington Trust Company, and he retired from the Bay State Gas Company after 20 years as a manager/supervisor. He was currently employed at Lexington Insurance (AIG) in Boston. He was on numerous boards and committees, including the Salem/Methuen Rotary Club where he received The Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He was the President of the Greater Lawrence Credit Bureau, the Chairman of the Greater Lawrence United Fund, and a member of The John Hancock Lodge AF&FM, Bektash Temple and the Lawrence YMCA.
Bob enjoyed golf, collecting, sports, cooking, and spending time with his family and grandchildren. He had a great sense of humor and brought laughs to everyone he met. A Manhattan and a cigar would be a favorite past-time shared with his son-in-laws.
Bob was proud of all his children. He enjoyed sports events and collecting autographs and pictures of athletes with his son. He loved being with his daughters and grandchildren who brought so much fulfillment with their activities, family events, and always the unexpected His strength, courage and especially love of people will live on in all his family.
Bob was predeceased by his parents Mazie Mae (Wright) Drew and Earl Gilbert Drew. Survived by his wife Germaine (Veit) Drew; his son Robert E. Drew Jr of Methuen; his daughters Holly Drew and Bob Maglio of Candia, NH, Elizabeth and Neil Butler of Rowley, MA, and Melissa and Jay DeFrank of Haverhill, MA. 8 grandchildren: Drew, Devin, Olivia, Dillon, Madison, Stone, Mikayla, and Sophia; and several nieces.
The Drew family would like to thank friends and family for their support, his coworkers at Lexington Insurance, a special thanks to The Yawkey Center at MGH in Boston, Holy Family Hospital Laboratory and hospital staff and Stephen M. Kirk, MD for their kind and gentle care.
Friends and family are respectfully invited to visiting hours on Wednesday, December 16th from 4-7pm at The Charles F. Dewhirst Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen. A memorial service will follow at 7:00 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a foundation being established in honor of Robert E. Drew, Sr in care of Robert E. Drew Jr at First Choice Credit Union 55 Marston Street, Lawrence, MA 01841. The intent of the foundation is to create a lasting memorial in his honor, and will be a memorial that will be either constructed or donated at a later date.