Robert B. Main

Waltham – Mr. Robert B. Main, of Waltham, died Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham. He was 89.

Bob was born in Waltham on March 12, 1927, a son of the late Willard J. and Evelyn M. (Halpin) Main. He graduated from Waltham High School in 1944 and served with the United States Navy during World War II.

On October 11, 1952 Bob married his sweetheart, Doris M. Doucet, in Saint Joseph's Church in Waltham and the couple made Waltham their lifetime home.

After the war Bob earned an accounting degree from Boston University and spent his career in quality control positions with Tracerlab in Waltham, Itek in Lexington and for Litton/Applied Technology Division. He worked on the development of cameras and optical equipment destined for use on the SR-71 reconnaissance plane, the SkyLab space station, Moon survey vehicles, the space shuttle program and star tracking systems.

While he was at Tracerlab he helped found the Employees Federal Credit Union where he also served as president.

For years Bob found great peace, light, joy and refreshment at his family's cottage in Wareham. There he enjoyed gardening, fishing, sailing and golf. He also served as president and treasurer of Wareham's Agawam Beach Association.

In addition to his wife of sixty-five years, Doris, he leaves his children, Janice L. Dooling and her husband, Glenn, of Beverly and Robert D. Main and his wife, Pamela, of Las Vegas, Nevada; his grandchildren, Michael and William Dooling and several nieces and nephews.

Bob was also the brother of the late William J. Main, Margaret A. Santagate and Carolyn A. Hilton.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bob's life by gathering to visit at 11a.m. on Saturday, January 7th in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham where his memorial service will be held at 12 noon.

Bob's body has been donated to the medical school of his alma mater, Boston University, and will be buried at a later date at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.