Robert Charles Sutherland Sr., 55, of Newcastle, died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident June 19.
He was born Sept. 12, 1954, in Rockville, Conn., the oldest son of the late Charles and Catherine MacDonald Sutherland.
He attended local Rockville, Conn. schools, leaving school to join the U.S. Army. He achieved his G.E.D. while in the service. Robert was an active duty serviceman for six years and in the reserves for an additional six years. After the service he was employed as a machinist for several years with Uddulholm Steel in S. Windsor, Conn. Robert and Diane met through his brother Ken. Robert went to Diane’s house to pick up his brother and it was love at first sight. They were married on Aug. 18, 1973. In December of 1981 they moved to Maine, settling in Friendship. On Oct. 31, 1982 Robert and Diane renewed their wedding vows.
Robert worked for National Sea Products in the maintenance department for five years, before going to work for Stinson Seafood in Bath in quality assurance and later in the Bath and Belfast branches as Plant Manager. When the Belfast branch closed down, Robert went to work for Maine Frozen Food in Caribou for a year, returning to the Bath Branch as plant manager for a year. After the closure of the Bath branch he spent two years working for N.C. Hunt in Jefferson and in 2007, he became a corrections officer at the Maine State Prison.
Robert was a man who lived life fully. He was the type of man who would give you the shirt off his back or the last penny in his pocket. Not only was he a great family member but he was always the person everyone went to when they needed anything. He was gentle, honest, trustworthy and dependable.
He loved to go shopping with his daughter and granddaughters who had him wrapped around their fingers. When he went shopping with them, they always got what they wanted. Even his little dog, Ruby, got a new outfit now and again.
When his children were young, he was very active with the Little League, coaching softball for his daughter and baseball for his son. Family was his life and he enjoyed spending his time with them. They enjoyed camping at Duck Puddle where they could fish, swim, play and be together.
This past Memorial Day, Bob made the trip to Connecticut where he met his brothers. They toured the entire state. They rode from sun up to sun down and enjoyed every second on their bikes.
Robert was passionate about cooking. He was an avid Red Sox fan checking the score at 4:30 a.m. on ESPN before going to work.
He was predeceased by his parents.
Survivors include his loving wife, Diane Lambert Sutherland of Newcastle; children, Robert Sutherland Jr. of Damariscotta, Brian P. Sutherland and his companion Danika Zaccadelli of Waldoboro, and Selena Belanger and husband Joshua of Waldoboro; brothers, Kenneth Sutherland and wife Diane of Willington, Conn., William Sutherland and wife Dawn of Andover, Conn., and Roger Sutherland of Stafford, Conn.; sisters, Joan Redding and husband Frank of Doraville, Ga., Beverly Bull and husband Ralph Jr. of Tolland, Conn., Donna Flora of Okeechobee, Fla., Marion Updyke and husband Larry of Manchester, Conn., Catherine Ward and husband Lee of Stafford, Conn., Brenda Bosse and husband Joseph of Stafford, Conn., and Bonnie Colburn and husband Randy of Rockville, Conn.; grandchildren, Blake R. Beverage of Waldoboro, Hayden M. Sutherland of Warren, Lexi-Grace Melanson of Waldoboro, Maci-Ella Melanson of Waldoboro, Gavin Belanger of Waldoboro, and Rachel Belanger of Waldoboro; and dog, Ruby.
Visiting hours 6-8 p.m., Tues., June 22 at Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
Celebration of Robert’s life 4 p.m., Wed., June 23 at the Orff’s Corner Cemetery, Rt. 32, Jefferson, with Rev. Bob Dorr officiating.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Waldoboro.
