Obituaries

Robert K. “Bob” Desmond, 68, of Hau’ula, Hawaii, and formerly of Weymouth and Braintree, recently passed away at home.

Following his 1965 graduation from Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Bob attended the University of Hawaii and graduated in 1969 with a degree in Economics.

Hawaii remained Bob’s home, and he went on to a successful career as a commercial painter and later as a painting inspector until his retirement.  Bob’s visitors would be treated to some of his favorite locales (including some of his painting jobs), his historical take on all of them, his socio-political opinions of the day, and University of Hawaii sporting events.

Bob was an avid reader, and his political leanings were well to the left.  He enjoyed prolonged discussions that included his well-informed view of the current state of US policies and politics.  Music, cars, and baseball were other topics of which he had great command.  In athletics of the backyard variety, he was a dominant horseshoes player.

With his ever present Red Sox hat and his dog named Boggs, Bob remained connected to his Massachusetts roots from his home in the Pacific.  “It’s just another day in paradise,” he loved to say.

Son of the late Arthur H. and Anne B. (Cowley) Desmond of Weymouth, Braintree, and Quincy, he is survived by his brothers Richard and his wife Beverly of Honolulu, Dennis and his wife Linda of Edinburgh, Scotland, John and his wife Diane of North Falmouth, Michael of Holbrook, Joseph and his wife Xhaklina of Quincy, and Paul and his wife Anne Marie of Southborough.  He also leaves his aunts, uncle, cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nephews.

Friends and relatives are invited to pay their respects at the Dennis Sweeney Funeral Home, 74 Elm Street, Quincy, on Friday November 27 between 4 and 7pm.  Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jerome Church, 632 Bridge Street, North Weymouth on Saturday November 28 at 10am.  Burial at St. Paul Cemetery in Hingham will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s name to Catholic Charities, 1822 Ke’eaumoku Street, Honolulu, HI 96822.