GLOUCESTER – The city lost one of its good guys on Friday, April 11, 2014, when Robert K. “Bob” Andersen, 61, passed away at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. He was the companion of Marilyn J. “Lynn” (Chapman) Blaisdell. They had shared many happy years together.
Born in Gloucester on April 2, 1953, he was the son of the late Norman C. and Beatrice (Duffy) Andersen. He was a lifelong resident and attended Gloucester public schools and was a graduate of the ITT Technical Institute.
Bob was self-employed as an automotive mechanic and also worked for numerous shops on the North Shore. He had also been employed for ten years at Gloucester Engineering. Earlier in life he worked as a commercial fisherman and lobsterman, as well as tending bar at the Hydaway Cafe and Crows Nest.
He loved spending time at Pine Acres in Raymond, New Hampshire and as a jack-of-all-trades, he enjoyed fixing things. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
In addition to Lynn, he is survived by three sons, Michael H. Andersen, fiancé of Amber Nielsen, Bryan Robert Andersen, and Marc H. Andersen; Lynn’s son, Shaun H. Blaisdell; three grandsons, Caleb, Mason and Justin Andersen; his sister Carol and her husband, Peter Evans; and his constant canine companion, Dustin Hoffman.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 4 - 6 p.m. A celebration of his life will follow at the Amvets Post #32 Hall, 14 Prospect St., Gloucester. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.