Robert Holmes Pettee, Jr

Robert H. Pettee, Jr. died July 7, 2022 after a valiant fight against malignant melanoma.

Robert was born on August 26, 1950 in Greensboro, NC, the son of Robert H. Pettee, Sr. and Laura Maie Shaver Pettee, who predeceased him. His brother William Trantham Shaver Pettee also predeceased him.

Robert's family moved to Wilmington, NC and lived on Borden Avenue, where in 1951 he met the love of his life and future wife. He attended Forest Hills Elementary School. His family moved with his father's work to Puerto Rico, and eventually settled in Walnut Cove, NC.

Robert (now known as Bob) graduated from Christ School in 1968. He subsequently attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Inspired by events in Southeast Asia, he left to enlist in the US Army. His ancestors were Patriots and Soldiers. He had listened as his grandfather and his father told him about their war-time infantry experiences, and he felt it was his patriotic duty to fight for his country. He knew he did not want to march through this war, so he opted for flight training.  Bob found his calling as a helicopter pilot and it was his vocation for 52 years.

He was "Captain Bob" for NBC News in Los Angeles, California. He was a lifelong "Newsie" and contributed to many innovations to news coverage in California. He was honored by The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Outstanding Hard News Reporting and received an Emmy in 1997. 

He flew helicopter tours over islands, waterfalls and volcanoes in Hawaii.

He was Chief Pilot for TV News12 in New York.

His recent flying was with emergency medical transport companies; the most recent with Air Evac Lifetime 97 in Portsmouth, Ohio.

He made a significant contribution to Historic Wilmington, NC by restoring the DuBois ~ Boatwright House (built ca. 1760).

With over 30,000 hours in the sky Robert retired in December of 2021.

His passing is mourned by a host of aviators, mechanics, medical professionals and media professionals who worked with Bob. They remember him with fondness and admiration as a consummate professional.

His was a life well-lived.

Surviving family members left to cherish wonderful memories are his son, Robert Holmes Pettee, III, "Trey”,  his daughter Seneca Asia Chase Pettee,  and his wife, Julia Boatwright Pettee "Julie".

His family loves Robert intensely and misses him deeply.

We want to thank Robert's medical care professionals:

Dr. Tsuyoshi Inoshita and staff

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Dr. Daniel Dawson, Nurse Elizabeth and staff

Dr. Kenneth W. Kotz and staff

Dr. Michael Nichols, Nurse Mary Kathryn and staff

Novant Hospital (NHRMC) 4th floor nursing staff

Novant Diagnostic Center (Wrightsville Avenue)

Dr. Daniel Barzana, Nurse Nina and staff

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, especially Shauna, Rebecca, Sara, Mary, Karen, Brenda, Trevor and Bree

Friends and family are welcome to gather to remember Robert and celebrate his life from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, October 7th,  at 7100 Kinsella Court, Wilmington, 28409.   Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 8 at St. James Parish, 25 South 3rd Street, Wilmington, with interment to follow at Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington.

Suggested donations in Robert's memory may be made to causes he cared sincerely about: Tunnels to Towers, Wounded Warriors, St. Jude Hospital, Christ School and Historic Wilmington Foundation.

R.I.P. Captain Bob