Home Base A legacy of service and support
Army Veteran Robert S. Pettigrew, Jr., of Wellesley Hills, MA, spent his final Veterans Day with his daughter, Vanessa, volunteering for Home Base at the Boston Bruins’ 2025 Military Appreciation Night.
In support of his fellow Veterans, Bob challenged himself and Vanessa to finish the event as Top 3 fundraisers. Unsurprisingly, they succeeded with flying colors — raising over $30,000 to support our mission to heal the invisible wounds for Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen.
The night culminated with the dynamic father-daughter duo watching the third period together, reminiscing about her time as a member of the first Wellesley High School girl’s hockey team. “Dad” drove Vanessa to and from all of her practices and games, proudly and lovingly playing the role of hockey girl dad.
Sadly, less than a month after his incredibly generous efforts at TD Garden, Bob suddenly passed away at the age of 83.
My strong, Army dad was still lifting until the day he died. He was extremely physically active with one of the strongest work ethics, working 40 hours a week, by choice, during his retirement. He was never sick, he was unbreakable.
Bob was the son of Robert, Sr., and Ruth Pettigrew of West Hartford, CT.
Bob’s father, after whom he was named, was a member of the Ohio State University men’s track and field team alongside Jesse Owens, winning a Big Ten championship in javelin in 1937. He then served in the Navy Air Corps during World War II, including in Normandy on D-Day, and was awarded a Letter of Commendation and Commendation Medal before retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1945.
Bob followed in his father’s footsteps, serving in the Army at Fort Dix. In civilian life, he joined forces with his father as a manufacturer’s sales representative at the Pettigrew Company, the business Robert, Sr., founded in 1949, with clients such as Gillette, XM Radio and Canadian manufacturers. He was also a member of the National Electronics Representatives Association and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
In his retirement, Bob enjoyed working in customer service at Home Depot. He was also a proud supporter of the Wellesley Rotary Club, the Wellesley Police and Fire Departments, and Scouting.
Besides being on the beach, Bob also enjoyed boating, water skiing, driving cars, flying airplanes and rooting on local sports teams. He especially enjoyed snow skiing.
When Bob passed away late last year, his family asked their loved ones to make donations to Home Base on his behalf. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, and his children, extended family and many friends.
There is no greater accomplishment for a man than being a father to children who want and actively choose to spend time with him.
Home Base sincerely thanks Vanessa for sharing her father’s story with us, as she continues to honor and remember him with great pride.
Vanessa not only serves as the co-chair for the the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Veteran Employee Resource Group, where she provides support for Veterans who work for the Commonwealth and their Families, but also regularly volunteers for our program.
My dad was one of the strongest people I know, and I know he would want me to use the strength he showed me to immediately live life in joy, to not stop living, to never wait and to live for today!
We are tremendously grateful of Bob’s service and sacrifice and his unwavering support for his fellow Veterans many years after his time in uniform, as well as of Vanessa and the entire Pettigrew family for sharing him with us and carrying on his legacy of supporting our Nation’s Heroes. ∎