Shrewsbury – Robert A. “Bob” Trottier, 85, a longtime resident of Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully at Notre Dame Skilled Nursing Facility on Thursday, January 18, 2024, after a short illness.
Robert was born on August 16, 1938, in Ware, Massachusetts, the son of Oswald S. and Katherine V. (Korczyniak) Trottier. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Estelle K. (Trottier) Regin.
Bob leaves his beloved wife and best friend of over 62 years, Maria E. “Stella” (Villamil) Trottier, and two daughters, Patricia and her husband Brian Lake, Sr., and Monica and her husband Jack Fitzpatrick of Shrewsbury. Bob leaves a legacy of six grandchildren: Brian Lake, Jr. and his wife Aimee, Nicholas Lake, and his wife Kelly, all of Seattle Washington, Kristin McKean of Sterling, Joseph and Timothy Fitzpatrick of Shrewsbury and Julianna Fitzpatrick of Centennial, Colorado. Bob was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Kylie, Hunter, Audrey, Remi, Noah, Henry, and Delores (Lola).
Growing up in Ware, Bob graduated from Ware High School in 1956 and continued his education at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, graduating in 1960. He met the love of his life and moved to Shrewsbury with Stella in 1963. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserves from 1961 to 1968 as a hospital corpsman. He was a pharmacist for over 60 years, working at various pharmacies, before retiring from Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital in Worcester in 2019.
Faith and family were very important to Bob. He served as an altar boy when he was young and later served at St. Anne’s Church in the medical clinic, as well as assisting with funerals.
Bob loved spending time camping in New Hampshire and on his boat on Lake Winnipesaukee. He enjoyed traveling and camping all over the US, affectionately calling our family the “See America First Team”. Bob was an incredible history buff and enjoyed discussing politics with friends and family. He was also a very accomplished woodworker and builder and could fix almost anything.
Bob enjoyed music very much. Not only was he an accomplished musician, but he also enjoyed dancing with his forever dance partner, Stella. He was the founding member of Bob Trottier’s Golden Star Orchestra, which helped him pay for college, and he had the uncanny ability to hear a tune and then notate that tune hours – or sometimes days later. Bob and Stella spent many weekends dancing in clubs across New England and he will be sorely missed by their many friends whom they met through their love of dance.
Later in life Bob and Stella became world travelers, visiting South America, Germany, Italy, Poland, England, France, and Ireland to name a few. They also enjoyed traveling to Polkafest in Minnesota every year.
Our family would like to gratefully thank the surgeons, doctors, and nurses at University of Massachusetts Hospital, Lakeside Campus, ICU, Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, and Notre Dame Skilled Nursing Facility. We would especially like to thank Anna, Beth, and MariAnn at Notre Dame.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours at the Chiampa Funeral Home, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 9:00 A.M. -12:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s honor, may be made to help find a cure for Pancreatic Cancer. Donate Today | The American Cancer Society
Private interment will take place at a later date.
