Robert N Cleverdon

Robert Newton Cleverdon, of Ipswich, MA, formerly of Wellesley, passed in peace on August 26, 2024 at the age of 102 and 9mo. He was born in Boston, MA on November 21, 1921, to Herbert S. and Francis Cleverdon (Sheldon). He was known by many names; Steve (by his father), Bob, Bobbie, Clev, Clevie, Newt, Jr, Pop, Grampy, Great-Grand Pop, and more we may not be aware of, but to us he was Dad.

His education started at Newton Elementary and Jr. High Schools and then went on to high school at The Rivers School in Brookline, which he loved and enjoyed playing baseball, hockey and football, jersey #0! After the war he graduated with several degrees, Business Administration certificate from the Babson Institute, Structural Design from Franklin Technical Institute and a Bachelor of Technology at the Wentworth Institute of Technology. These served him well when working for his dad at C, V & P (Cleverdon, Varney & Pike Consulting Engineering) and then eventually when he took over the business. In his retirement he loved working for Campbell Supplies in Wellesley, driving all round greater Boston delivering parts (it was the navigator in him!).

Dad was a Veteran of WWII serving in the Army Air corps as a 1st Lieutenant in the 392nd Bomber Group, in the 8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division “Flying Crusaders,” 14th Combat Wing as a lead navigator. He flew 30 successful missions and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Clusters, and was part of the European Theater of Operation (for N. France, Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe). Later in life at the age of 98, on Bastille Day, he received the “French Legion Medal of Honor” from the French Consulate in Cambridge, MA for flying 3 missions over France.

He was passionate about; walking his Newfoundland dogs (of which there were many over the years), bagpipe music which he fell in love with in Edinburgh, Scotland during a WWII visit (also played live at his 99th & 100th birthdays), a steady diet of peanut & PB M&M’s eaten daily later in life (the secret to his longevity) along with an occasional Scotch Whisky (taste acquired after the war). He skied all over NE plus CO & UT into his 80’s! He was an avid tennis player with his wife Margery and played with several men’s groups, also into his 80’s! He loved sailing for fun & racing his sunfish in Lakes Sebago & Winnipesaukee with friends and earlier in life playing squash with his nephew. His favorite sports teams were the Boston Red Sox and Bruins (which he followed for so many years that there were too many names & teams to remember!). He enjoyed traveling with family and friends over his years with his highlights being Montreal & Williamsburg (with wife Margery), Bermuda (with close friends), Arizona 90th birthday (family trip to Grand Canyon-Hoover Dam-Rt66-Sedona), Germany-Belgium-Netherlands (watching his grandchildren play soccer with “People-to-People”), Colorado (visiting the Air Force Academy) and a Boston duck boat ride for his 95th birthday. He was also fortunate to see all 10 of his grandchildren get married in his lifetime and meet his 9 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 yrs., Margery Cleverdon (Guimaraes), his sister Elizabeth “Betty” Baird (Cleverdon) and her husband Stuart and their daughter (his only niece) Patricia Baird.

Robert is survived by his loving children; daughter Linda Gardner(Cleverdon) and husband Tom of Warren, VT (their family; grandson Scott, wife Rachel, great-granddaughter Mila; grandson Jeff, wife Mosie; granddaughter Jen Kearns (Gardner), husband Mike, great-granddaughter Hailey); son Robert N. Cleverdon of Ellington, CT (his family; grandson Mark, wife Jen, great-grandchildren Kayla & Jackson; grandson Ryan, wife Sarah, great-granddaughter Delaney; grandson Tyler, wife Audrey); son Mark A. Cleverdon and wife Kim of Mendon, MA (their family; granddaughter Kristina Landers (Cleverdon) husband Hal, great-granddaughters Hadley & Kennedy; granddaughter Katlyn LoPresti (Cleverdon), husband Kyle, great-grandsons Chase and Travis) and daughter Lisa Cleverdon of Ipswich, MA (her family; grandson Kyle Clark, wife Kaleigh Mangiarelli; granddaughter Brittany Beck (Clark), husband James). He is also survived by his only nephew Freddy Baird of Midlothian, VA and his partner Diane.

He believed in God and was a member of the Village Church of Wellesley for 60yrs and served as an usher and in other positions. When he moved to Ipswich, he attended the First Congregational Church of Essex with his daughter Lisa. Both churches loved him well and he was blessed by their kindness at church and at home when he needed assistance. He was on hospice for 2 years and received their best home care before he spent his last 10 days of his life at the Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers, receiving the best end of life care, love, and peace.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Robert’s memory to the making of a WWII documentary “The Green Box: At the Heart of the War” by his Ipswich neighbor and friend Jim Kurtz, based on his dad’s WWII experiences from his book the “Green Box.” Dad was proud to have supported the film and shared his experiences as a navigator of a B24 with author Jim Kurtz whose dad (featured in the film) was a B24 co-pilot. The film will be broadcast on PBS and is in the final fundraising stage for finishing costs.

Donation information may be found here: https://www.greenboxfilm.com/support

Another contribution near and dear to his heart can be given to “The River’s School” in Weston, MA, where he was an avid supporter of their sports and an active alumnus.

Donation information may be found here: https://www.rivers.org/giving

We would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone who knew our Dad, for you blessed him so much with your love as a family member, friend, neighbor, sitter, nurse, doctor, pastor, caregiver or volunteer helper, that you made a profound impact on him and made his life richer. May you feel comforted knowing Dad has flown his last mission home with God to his heavenly loved ones! The family will be having a private graveside service.