By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – The late G. Robert “Bob” Stetson was remembered May 26 at the First Church of Marlborough – Congregational. Stetson, who died suddenly April 27, was a retired engineer and had owned Marlboro Airport since 1999, when he purchased it from long-time owner Donald V. Lacouture.
The service was held on what would have been Stetson's 66th birthday.
Opening with the singing of “On Eagle's Wings,” the memorial service was attended by a crowd that nearly filled the church's sanctuary. Attendees came from Marlborough, surrounding towns, across the Northeast, and from national aviation organizations. Stetson had been very active in the flying community and dedicated himself to spreading his passion about aviation to the larger community. He was also a supporter of the Real World Design Challenge (http://www.realworlddesignchallenge.org/), and under his tutelage, Marlborough High School won the 2012 state competition, having designed and successfully computer-tested two airplanes.
The Reverend Kazimierz Bem officiated at the memorial service and encouraged Stetson's friends and associates to come forward and relate incidents that helped attendees relive some of Stetson's more enlightening, and funny, moments.
The service concluded with the singing of “Some Glad Morning I'sl Fly Away.” Following the service, attendees were treated to a luncheon prepared by church members. After the luncheon, Stetson's friends were invited back to the airport for socializing and swapping more flying and airport stories.