NATICK: Robert C. Potter, age 76, retired President of the Middlesex Savings Bank, died peacefully with family by his side on Thursday, August 2, 2012. He was the devoted husband of Rose Marie (Annesi) Potter.
Born and raised in Natick, he was a son of the late Greta (Morrill) and Richard H. Potter, Sr. Robert was a member of the Natick High School Class of 1954 and continued his education at Southern Illinois University. He served with the United States Navy prior to completing his studies at the Brown University School of Banking.
Robert began his career with the Natick Five Cent Savings Bank working as a teller in 1957. During his employment he was to hold many positions with the bank, eventually serving as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board at the time of his retirement in June of 1996. He was President during the transition from Natick Five Cent Savings Bank to Middlesex Savings Bank; his goal was to keep the bank as a community bank, maintaining a personal and family atmosphere. A member of the Natick Rotary Club, Past President of the Jaycees, and Past Director of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, Robert had also been a Junior Warden of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, a former Treasurer of the Downtown Natick Merchant Associates, and had tirelessly given of his time and talents to numerous community projects and charitable and civic organizations. For the past several years he had resided between Jupiter, Florida and Eastham.
He is survived by Rose Marie; their children Deborah and Michael Bercume of Shrewsbury, Mark and Mara Potter of Medway, Donna Potter of Brewster, James and Jay Potter of Bourne, and Scott and Beth Potter of Harwich; nine grandchildren, Michael and Nicole Bercume, Christopher and Aleah Potter, Davis, Kirsten, and Dean Doherty, and Joseph and Tyler Potter; a brother, Richard H. Potter, Jr. and wife Mary; sister-in-law Lois Potter and his Annesi brothers and sisters-in-law; a cousin, Jack Morrill; and many nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Arthur H. Potter.
His funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, on Tuesday, Aug. 7th at 10:00a.m. with a Service at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 39 East Central Street, Natick at 11:00a.m. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Monday 4 – 8p.m.
Donations may be made in Robert’s memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02146.