Robert Griffiths Mugford

Robert Griffiths Mugford of Sudbury died Monday, June 6, 2011. He was 83 and the husband of Jean Hall Mugford. Born in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1928, he was the son of the late Walter J. and Eunice Hackley Mugford. Robert grew up in North Weymouth, MA and lived in Sudbury for 53 years. He was a graduate of Weymouth High School in 1945 and Wentworth Institute of Technology in 1951. In his early years Mr. Mugford and his two brothers sang cowboy songs on national radio. Robert was a licensed Radio Amateur with call letters W1UMM. He was a member of the NRA and was active in GOAL. As a young man, Robert was active in the men’s group at the Bethany Congregational Church in Quincy. He contributed in many capacities as a member of the Memorial Congregational Church, Sudbury and later the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury. Mr. Mugford was an adult volunteer for Boy Scout Troop 60 in Sudbury as well. Robert Mugford proudly served his country during WW II in the U.S. Army as a member of General MacArthur’s Honor Guard in Tokyo, Japan along side of his handsome twin brother, Russell. He was formerly Senior Vice-Commander and Chaplin of American Legion Post 191, Sudbury and Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 8771, Sudbury. Mr. Mugford was honored by his town by serving as Parade Marshall for the 2006 Memorial Day Parade. Robert was employed as an electrical & reliability engineer. He worked in early research at M.I.T. in early warning radar systems. He was employed at Textron Defense Systems in Wilmington, MA working on “Peace Keeper System” 1979-1988. He also worked at Ratheon Bedford Lab Annex, Burlington, MA on the Patriot Air Defense System, 1978&1979. He was formerly a Radio Maintenance Technician for MA State Police, Framingham from 1973-1978 and Sanders Associates, Bedford, from 1968-1971. He was employed at the American Science and Engineering, Cambridge in 1967 and 68, Ratheon in Waltham, Sudbury, Maynard and Newton 1951-1963 and Block Instrument Corp. of College Point, NY and General Dynamics, Electronic Division, Rochester, NY. In addition to his wife of 53 years, Jean, he leaves his children; Julie Ann Mugford of Sudbury; his son and daughter in law, Phillip Robert and Lucy Mugford of Simsbury, CT; Scott Hall and Tammi Mugford of Grafton, MA; and his daughter, Laurie Jane Nalesnik and her husband,Walter Nalesnik, MD, of Revere, MA. He was the brother of Paul Stanley Mugford and his wife, Marion, of Shrewsbury, MA and P.E.I., CanadaHe was the grandfather of Stephanie, Steven and Danielle and brother in law of Phyllis Mugford of Cornelius, NC. He was the brother of the late Russell Munro Mugford and Evelyn Ecker and is survived by many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 9, at 9:00 am at the Presbyterian Church of Sudbury, 330 Concord Road, Sudbury Center followed by interment with military honors at Wadsworth Cemetery, Sudbury. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Duckett-J.S.Waterman & Sons Home of Memorial Tribute, 656 Boston Post Rd., Rt. 20, Sudbury.