Celebrating the Life of Robert (Bob) Pelosky

Robert (Bob) Pelosky, proud Massachusetts resident, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025, in Bourne, MA. He was 91 years old.

Born on September 12, 1933, in Greenfield, MA, Bob and his fraternal-twin brother, Dick, were the youngest of five children born to Lithuanian immigrants, Anna and Leon Pelosky. Bob grew up in Deerfield, MA on the family farm, growing tobacco and potatoes. A true farm boy, he was proud of his 4-H awards for poultry raising. Savage Farms remains family owned in its fourth generation. Bob was very proud to be a first-generation American as well as his Lithuanian heritage. His father, Leon, passed away after a farming accident when Bob and Dick were 12 years old. As the only children still at home, they made a pact not to be a burden to their mother. He was no stranger to hard work.

Bob attended Deerfield Public Schools and the University of Massachusetts where he played football and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. That is where he met Marylee, his wife to be. Family lore has it that they met in the dining commons when Bob asked Marylee if she really needed that piece of bread with her meal. Her reply, that she was perfectly capable of deciding that for herself, took him by surprise and sparked their courtship.

Bob graduated from UMass in 1955 and joined the U.S. Army where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division for three years as a jumpmaster before leaving active duty and joining the U.S. Army Reserve. He served in the Reserves for 24 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel with an Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service as a Military Instructor at the U.S. Army Reserve School in Boston, MA. Bob also taught as a senior artillery instructor at the Command and General Staff School. Military service ran in his family with all his brothers serving. Two of his brothers, Ed and Dick, served as career military.

He married Marylee Boyle in 1957 and joined Procter & Gamble where he worked as an account manager before joining Millbrook Distributors of Worcester, MA. He served Millbrook for 28 years rising to executive vice president. His children fondly recall joining him on product placement review tours across Worcester County.

Bob worked hard to be a great husband to Marylee and Dad to his six children, attending their many sporting events and even serving as youth hockey coach. The children warmly recall their home at One Westwood Road in Shrewsbury center as a wonderful place to grow up. Bob was a founding member of the Shrewsbury Kiwanis Club & served on the UMASS Athletic Council.

He and Marylee retired to Cape Cod in 1981, settling in Dennis, MA. There he consulted for Twining Teas for several years before picking up his tennis racket and golf clubs in earnest. A hole-in-one awardee at Dennis Pines, Bob served his Cape Cod community as Chair of the Dennis Capital Outlay Committee for four years and as member for eight years. He also served as President of the UMass Cape Cod Alumni Association and as President of the Men’s Club at Our Lady of the Cape Roman Catholic Church.

Also known as Captain Bob, Dad and Grampie to his family and friends, Bob enjoyed the outdoors, especially gardening and landscaping his home. He loved watching college football (Go Minutemen!) and always enjoyed a good meal whether it be steaks on the grill, Cape Cod steamers, Polish or Italian food. He was proud that all four of his boys worked in the tobacco fields and knew what hard work meant, that all six children graduated from college & several from graduate school.

Honesty was the trait Bob valued above all others, and he was most proud to be known as a good husband, father and friend to many. Time with family was key; he provided quiet, undeterred love and support to all his family throughout his life. He loved watching his grandchildren grow, testing the boys with his hearty handshake and reminding boys & girls alike that honesty, hard work and service to others are the hallmarks of a good life. His formative experiences on the farm, in the Army, and in business, made him equally comfortable with people whether in the warehouse or the boardroom. He was a people person, and his people will miss him and his hearty laugh greatly.

Bob is survived by and remembered with great love by his wife of 68 years Marylee (Boyle); his six children & nine grandchildren: Jay (Ryan, Zack), Bill & Caroline (Grace, Rose), Kevin & Sheri, Mark & Christine (Liam, Sacha), Ann Marie & Jean (Sebastien, Alix, Jean-Christian), Mary Beth and his twin brother, Dick.

He is predeceased by his parents Anna and Leon Pelosky, his brothers Bill & Ed and sister Nellie.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Bob at Our Lady of the Cape in Brewster, MA on August 21, 2025 at 11 AM. Calling hours will be 4 to 7 PM on August 20 at Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home in Dennis, MA.

Special thanks to the staff at Bourne Manor who treated Dad with such care & compassion. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made by check to the Shrewsbury Public Library Memorial Gift Account. Please indicate it is for the Memory Café program. Donations may be mailed to Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library 609 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or online to https://splfriends.weebly.com/