Robert Leo Patenaude

Robert “Bob” Patenaude — husband, father, Marine, Buckeye, golfer, boater, gardener, author, occasional comedian, and full-time character — checked out of this world on May 5th, 2026, ready (he assured us) for whatever wonderful thing comes next.

Bob entered our world in January 1938 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. His "dash" — that line between two dates (1938–2026) — represented 88 full years of famed accomplishments. His legacy lives on through those accomplishments, along with his family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors whose lives he touched.

He was a husband by the Laws of Church and State, and a partner in crime and best friend to Elaine. He loved his children, both genetic and through marriage. He coached Little League for eleven seasons, which he counted as eleven championship years regardless of the standings.

He answered to many names. To family, he was Bob, Dad, Pepe or Papa. To the wider world he was, variously, the Prince of Darkness, Studley, and Colonel Peaches.

In one career, Bob spent twenty years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1981. He served in Command and Staff positions across the globe and spoke fluent Swahili — a credential the U.S. military logically translated into orders sending him to Vietnam to interrogate Vietnamese prisoners as a language specialist where he earned the Bronze Star for intelligence gathering. Of course he did.

In a second career, he held senior leadership roles as CFO and Vice President of Business Development and Programs at Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Baxter, and Lockheed Martin — places that take themselves very seriously, and which Bob, mercifully, did not. He also authored two published books, both about humor — widely available, narrowly read, and beloved by their entire readership of approximately five people, all of whom are in his family.

He was a Buckeye to the bone. Class of 1960, The Ohio State University, and 50+ years of unwavering belief that whatever the Buckeyes did was correct. He read (often), boated (always), golfed (when he could) and watched sports (loudly with great commentary).

Bob wanted no star on a Walk of Fame. He preferred to be remembered the way he lived — loudly, warmly, and with the right punchline. In his own words: "He was as good a man as he could have been." We'll take it.

He is survived by his wife and partner of 36 years, Elaine; his son Bob Jr. of Virginia; his stepchildren Brandon Bovey (and his wife Kendall and daughter Maisie) of New York, and Kristen Coffel of Boulder, Colorado; and his grandson Leo of Virginia.

Per his very specific instructions, Bob will not be spending eternity in any kind of chill or darkness, thank you very much. He has chosen instead a beach in Paradise Island, Bahamas, where he will rest forever, rearranging his lounge chair daily to watch boaters, golfers, or bathers, depending on the mood and the wind.

A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, May 11th at 1pm at the White Chapel and Harbor Hall in Palm Harbor, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Salvation Army. Bring a story, bring a smile, and please — for Bob — laugh.

We will miss him terribly.