1933
Robert
2024
Robert L. Dirubio
March 2, 1933 — January 15, 2024
HOLDEN - Robert L. DiRubio, 90, a resident of Holden, passed away on January 15, 2024 at the Rose Monahan Hospice House in Worcester, after a long period of declining health.
Robert was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on March 2, 1933, the firstborn child of Pasquale and Elena (Maggiacomo) DiRubio. He had a fun childhood playing sandlot baseball and basketball, climbing the rocks at the shore, and hanging out in Lynch Park. Although he was a self-described C-student at Beverly High School, Robert loved going to the library and developed a life-long passion for learning.
A month after graduating from high school in 1951, Robert enlisted in the Air Force and served his country for four years during the Korean War. He was a member of the First Pilotless Bomber Squadron and traveled through the mountains of the former West Germany to set up radio antennas along the border with East Germany. He recalled having to guard missiles in the woods the middle of the night, and driving a large truck along treacherous mountain roads.
After his military service, Robert held a series of jobs including moving furniture, setting up equipment for the telephone company, and making radar tubes at Bomac Laboratories. Eventually he enrolled in the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, graduating first in his class in 1967. He worked in research and development for Astra Pharmaceuticals (now Astra Zeneca) for almost 35 years, helping to invent the local anesthetic Xylocaine and introducing statistical techniques into the R&D process. He was named on two patents for his work at Astra.
Robert met his wife, Lucille Theriault, at his parents’ 25th anniversary, and they eloped in 1956. They settled in central Massachusetts and raised three children. Robert and Lucille divorced in 1987. He enjoyed traveling, and once rode his motorcycle cross-country in the late 1980’s. Later in life, he created artwork by melting colorful pieces of glass in geometric patterns using a kiln. His home was filled with rainbows on sunny days, as the light refracted through his art.
Robert is survived by his three children: Christopher DiRubio and his wife Sherry (Dickens) of Perrysburg, Ohio, Pamela Hegarty and her husband James of Concord, Massachusetts, and Kirk DiRubio and his wife Susie (Devlin) of Cataumet, MA. He is also survived by his two granddaughters, Aurora Hegarty and Leah DiRubio, his siblings Donald DiRubio and his wife Gail, and Joan DiRubio, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. Robert was pre-deceased by his former wife, Lucille, his life partner Kathe Menick Townsend, and his grandson Joseph Hegarty.
The family is planning a celebration of life on July 20, 2024. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in Robert’s memory to the American Cancer Society, Doctors Without Borders, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home of Holden.
Robert was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on March 2, 1933, the firstborn child of Pasquale and Elena (Maggiacomo) DiRubio. He had a fun childhood playing sandlot baseball and basketball, climbing the rocks at the shore, and hanging out in Lynch Park. Although he was a self-described C-student at Beverly High School, Robert loved going to the library and developed a life-long passion for learning.
A month after graduating from high school in 1951, Robert enlisted in the Air Force and served his country for four years during the Korean War. He was a member of the First Pilotless Bomber Squadron and traveled through the mountains of the former West Germany to set up radio antennas along the border with East Germany. He recalled having to guard missiles in the woods the middle of the night, and driving a large truck along treacherous mountain roads.
After his military service, Robert held a series of jobs including moving furniture, setting up equipment for the telephone company, and making radar tubes at Bomac Laboratories. Eventually he enrolled in the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, graduating first in his class in 1967. He worked in research and development for Astra Pharmaceuticals (now Astra Zeneca) for almost 35 years, helping to invent the local anesthetic Xylocaine and introducing statistical techniques into the R&D process. He was named on two patents for his work at Astra.
Robert met his wife, Lucille Theriault, at his parents’ 25th anniversary, and they eloped in 1956. They settled in central Massachusetts and raised three children. Robert and Lucille divorced in 1987. He enjoyed traveling, and once rode his motorcycle cross-country in the late 1980’s. Later in life, he created artwork by melting colorful pieces of glass in geometric patterns using a kiln. His home was filled with rainbows on sunny days, as the light refracted through his art.
Robert is survived by his three children: Christopher DiRubio and his wife Sherry (Dickens) of Perrysburg, Ohio, Pamela Hegarty and her husband James of Concord, Massachusetts, and Kirk DiRubio and his wife Susie (Devlin) of Cataumet, MA. He is also survived by his two granddaughters, Aurora Hegarty and Leah DiRubio, his siblings Donald DiRubio and his wife Gail, and Joan DiRubio, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. Robert was pre-deceased by his former wife, Lucille, his life partner Kathe Menick Townsend, and his grandson Joseph Hegarty.
The family is planning a celebration of life on July 20, 2024. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in Robert’s memory to the American Cancer Society, Doctors Without Borders, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home of Holden.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert L. Dirubio, please visit our flower store.
Photo Gallery
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors