SPRINGFIELD ~ Robert I. Gorham, of the North End section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Friday, November 1, 2019. He passed into Eternal Life at Willimansett Center West in Chicopee surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on November 7, 1946, the beloved son of the late Irving F. Gorham and Mildred E. (Syriac) Gorham Benjamin. He was raised and educated in Springfield and had lived in Springfield his entire life. He was employed as a Floor Manager at Westfield Spring Manufacturing Company. An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the Westfield Sportsman’s Club where he served as Past President and Vice President. Bob was a self taught well-known two-way radio operator in the area and used his expertise to help many local organizations with their radio equipment. He and his wife, Cathy, enjoyed pacing many local road races with their vehicles and two-way radios. He was very proud of snow blowing most of his neighborhood during the winter. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Catherine H. “Cathy” (Hyland) Gorham. They were married on July 1, 1978 in Prospect, Connecticut and were blessed with over 41 years of happiness together. He also leaves his loving son, Nathaniel R. “Nate” Gorham of Springfield and his girlfriend, Amanda Porreco of Holyoke; his two dear sisters, Ellen Peck of Springfield and Mildred Damato and her husband, Richard, of Holyoke; his dear step sister, Sheila Worden and her husband, Richard, of Springfield; his dear sister-in-law, Mary Irizarry of Hamden, CT; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Gorham and Hyland families. His funeral will be held on Friday, November 8, 2019 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Boulevard, East Springfield, MA 01104. His burial will be private at a later date at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Springfield. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101-6307 or the Foundation for TJO Animals, 66 Industry Avenue, Suite 3, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com