Submitted by Bill Norvell 1965 <w.norvell@gmail.com>
on 03/Mar/2024
184.88.213.148
Robert "Bob" Anthony Bligh, II, of Arlington, Massachusetts,
formerly of Braintree and Salem, Massachusetts, and Milton
and Newburgh, New York, was born to eternal life on February
18, 2024. He was 92 years old. He was the son of the late
William Finan Bligh and Frances (Wolven) Bligh. Bob attended
Newburgh, New York, public schools, graduating from Newburgh
Free Academy High School in 1948. He served as Class
President for his senior class. He attended the University
of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana and was a member of the
University's Marching Band. He graduated from the University
of Notre Dame in 1952, with a B.S. in Commerce. Bob entered
the U.S. Navy in March, 1953 and served until his honorable
discharge in March, 1955. He trained at Havre De Grace,
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and was assigned to the USS
Mullany, DD-528. He spent the majority of his naval time in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and England, as the Koren War was
ending. Following Bob's service in the U.S. Navy, he decided
to pursue a career in education, with the encouragement of
his father, who cited both the stability and long-term
opportunities for professional development and advancement.
Bob worked at North Junior High School in Newburgh, New
York, as an Algebra teacher for 5 years, and was a talented
and dedicated professional who loved teaching and tutoring.
While teaching, he also obtained his Master's degree in
Mathematics at Teachers College, Columbia University. He
later transitioned to the position of Assistant Principal of
North Junior High School, a position he held for 25 years.
His North Junior High School career was filled with very
close friendships with his colleagues in the administration
and he was beloved by the many talented teachers,
counselors, and staff. Although Bob greatly enjoyed his work
as Assistant Principal, his first love was teaching and he
would often say how much he missed the daily interaction
with the students and the excitement of the classroom
environment. Following Bob's retirement from the Newburgh
City School District in 1989, he served as a counselor with
Pius XI Youth and Family Services, headquartered in
Middletown, New York, with a focus on drug and alcohol
education and programming at the elementary school level for
Newburgh City School District schools. Bob and his wife,
Pat, moved to Massachusetts in 2003 to be closer to their
children and grandchildren. They enjoyed spending time and
celebrating with their extended family and enjoying autumn
vacations at their home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A
life-long and fervent University of Notre Dame fan and
supporter, Bob followed sports passionately and appreciated
the high level of play of football, at both the college and
professional level, as well as the ATP/WTA professional
tennis tours. Robert is survived by his loving wife of 65
years Patricia (Gleeson) Bligh. He is survived by his
sister, Barbara (Bligh) Cushing, daughters Kathleen Bligh
(Jon) Yoh and Patricia (Luis) DaSilva, sons Robert Anthony
(Jennifer) Bligh, III and William (Sara) Bligh, and his
grandchildren Liam (Hailey) DaSilva, Sophia DaSilva, Brendan
Yoh, Meagan Yoh, Allyson Bligh, Aidan Bligh, and Timothy
Bligh. Bob is also survived by many loving nieces and
nephews. Bob will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, and
sweet man, devoted and dedicated to his wife and family and
loved by all. He will be greatly missed.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 1, 2024,
10:00 a.m. at St. Raphael Parish, 512 High Street, Medford,
Massachusetts, with burial to follow at the Massachusetts
National Cemetery, 1:15 p.m., Connery Avenue, Buzzards Bay,
Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, the family would be
grateful for remembrances in Bob's name to the following
charities: Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 302,
Maryknoll, New York, 10545-0302, (800) 627.9566, https://maryknollsociety.org/
or to the Band of the Fighting Irish, ND Bands, P.O. Box
1023, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556, (574) 631.7136, https://www.ndband.com/
Robert "Bob" Anthony Bligh, II, of Arlington, Massachusetts,
formerly of Braintree and Salem, Massachusetts, and Milton
and Newburgh, New York, was born to eternal life on February
18, 2024. He was 92 years old. He was the son of the late
William Finan Bligh and Frances (Wolven) Bligh. Bob attended
Newburgh, New York, public schools, graduating from Newburgh
Free Academy High School in 1948. He served as Class
President for his senior class. He attended the University
of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana and was a member of the
University's Marching Band. He graduated from the University
of Notre Dame in 1952, with a B.S. in Commerce. Bob entered
the U.S. Navy in March, 1953 and served until his honorable
discharge in March, 1955. He trained at Havre De Grace,
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and was assigned to the USS
Mullany, DD-528. He spent the majority of his naval time in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and England, as the Koren War was
ending. Following Bob's service in the U.S. Navy, he decided
to pursue a career in education, with the encouragement of
his father, who cited both the stability and long-term
opportunities for professional development and advancement.
Bob worked at North Junior High School in Newburgh, New
York, as an Algebra teacher for 5 years, and was a talented
and dedicated professional who loved teaching and tutoring.
While teaching, he also obtained his Master's degree in
Mathematics at Teachers College, Columbia University. He
later transitioned to the position of Assistant Principal of
North Junior High School, a position he held for 25 years.
His North Junior High School career was filled with very
close friendships with his colleagues in the administration
and he was beloved by the many talented teachers,
counselors, and staff. Although Bob greatly enjoyed his work
as Assistant Principal, his first love was teaching and he
would often say how much he missed the daily interaction
with the students and the excitement of the classroom
environment. Following Bob's retirement from the Newburgh
City School District in 1989, he served as a counselor with
Pius XI Youth and Family Services, headquartered in
Middletown, New York, with a focus on drug and alcohol
education and programming at the elementary school level for
Newburgh City School District schools. Bob and his wife,
Pat, moved to Massachusetts in 2003 to be closer to their
children and grandchildren. They enjoyed spending time and
celebrating with their extended family and enjoying autumn
vacations at their home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A
life-long and fervent University of Notre Dame fan and
supporter, Bob followed sports passionately and appreciated
the high level of play of football, at both the college and
professional level, as well as the ATP/WTA professional
tennis tours. Robert is survived by his loving wife of 65
years Patricia (Gleeson) Bligh. He is survived by his
sister, Barbara (Bligh) Cushing, daughters Kathleen Bligh
(Jon) Yoh and Patricia (Luis) DaSilva, sons Robert Anthony
(Jennifer) Bligh, III and William (Sara) Bligh, and his
grandchildren Liam (Hailey) DaSilva, Sophia DaSilva, Brendan
Yoh, Meagan Yoh, Allyson Bligh, Aidan Bligh, and Timothy
Bligh. Bob is also survived by many loving nieces and
nephews. Bob will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, and
sweet man, devoted and dedicated to his wife and family and
loved by all. He will be greatly missed.