July 5, 1959 – October 24, 2021
Robert Arthur Redmond was born on July 5, 1959, to and beloved by the late Sara (Lyons) Redmond and the late Robert L Redmond, and he passed away on October 24, 2021, after a long battle with COPD. Robert died peacefully at home with loved ones surrounding him. Robert leaves behind, his brother, Michael Redmond and his son Dylan Redmond Roberts, and his sisters, Margaret (Meg)(Redmond) Heselton and her late husband Rob Heselton and daughters Jill Heselton and Sarah (Heselton) Crowley of Reading, Maureen (Redmond) Carney, and her husband Kevin Carney and sons, Michael and Sean Carney of North Andover, Anne-Marie (Redmond) DiMauro and her husband Frank DiMauro and daughters, Samantha, Alexandra and Madeline DiMauro of Woburn. Robert was also the beloved grandson of the late Leo and Blanche Redmond, cherished nephew of June (Redmond) Banfield, the late Frances Eisenhaure, the late Richard Redmond, and the late Peggy Ryan. Robert had a very special bond with our cousin Mary (Colford) Sheehy.
Robert’s “best friend in the world” and guardian, Artie Johnston, and the Johnston Family were Robert’s beloved second family. Rob (Chopper) was cherished by the late Virginia Johnston and the late Arthur Johnston and their children; Meg and John Kennedy, Artie Johnston, Jan Johnston, Myrna Johnston, Doug, and Sarah Johnston, and Sue Ann Savery.
Robert also had many lifelong friends, but here are a few very special people that he kept in touch with all these years; Dick Haggerty, Larry Hodson, and Charlie Gray. Robert’s oldest friend was our neighbor and family friend, the late Allan Nickerson and family.
Robert, also known as, Robbie, Rob, and Chopper was special and well known in his hometown of Reading. He loved getting to know everyone in town, from the great friends he made at the Reading Fire Dept, to the fun group of friends at Hodson Oil Company and everywhere in between. Also, in the old days one of Robert’s favorite hangouts was the Town Public Works Garage In recent years, Robert enjoyed guided fishing trips in Maine and the annual trip to the Seashore Trolley Museum with Artie. Also, Robert started doing crafts such as making bookmarks and hearts with gimp and he painted rocks he found at the beach and put his initials, RR, on the rock and would give them away to his friends. Robert volunteered at St Agnes as an usher at Sunday masses.
Robert graduated from Stoneham High School and he had a little shoe shining business in his younger years and he volunteered for the Walk for Hunger and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. Also, some called him the “Mayor of Reading” because if Robert saw that you had a problem or something that needed fixing he was quick to offer help or direct you to the right person to fix it. Robert was welcomed into many Reading businesses, such as the Reading Chronicle, Hodson Oil Company, Action Glass, and Smith Oil. Robert was dependent on others for help in many ways, but independent in spirit, and managed to find his way from Reading to Boston and everywhere in between.
The wonderful Reading Firefighters recently honored Robert’s dedication and love for the Reading Fire department, by making him an honorary member of the Reading Firefighters Local 1640, a plaque, helmet, and Reading Fire red polo shirt, was presented by Group Four to Robert on October 22, 2021.
Robert will be greatly missed by his brother and sisters, nephews, nieces, and many cousins and friends and his “big brother” and best friend Artie and the Johnston Family.
Yes, it really takes a village!
Funeral from the Doherty Barile Family Funeral Home 11 Linden St. READING Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 9:30 am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating Robbie’s Eternal Life in St. Agnes Church 186 Woburn St. Reading at 10:30 am. Family and friends are kindly invited to gather and share memories with the family on Friday, October 29, 2021, from 4 pm to 7 pm in the funeral home. Parking attendants and elevator available.
Please consider donations in memory of Robbie to All Care Hospice 210 Market St. Lynn MA 01901 or Communitas 60 D Audubon Rd
Wakefield, MA 01880 or at Communitas Link to Donate
For directions or to send a memorial condolence barilefuneral.com or facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome.
