Father of Harvard resident, engineer
Leo Roberts. (Courtesy photo)
Leo F. Roberts, age 81, of Hampton, New Hampshire, formerly of Chelmsford and Andover, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at Westford Genesis House. He was the husband of the late Barbara Roberts.
Born in Brockton on April 5, 1936, he was the son of the late Francis A. and Ruth (Kelly) Roberts.
Leo graduated from Rockland High School in 1954 and Northeastern University with a degree in electrical engineering in 1959. Within a few years, he began a long and rewarding career with Raytheon Company and worked on many classified defense projects, including the Hawk missile project. He traveled the world with his work at Raytheon, including living in Paris, France, for several years on two different occasions.
Leo was a devoted father and husband who enjoyed spending time with his family and extended family. He was an avid Boston sports fan and especially enjoyed travel, genealogy, and playing golf. He retired to Hampton to be close to the ocean, which he loved so much.
He is survived by his children, Charles Roberts and his wife, Heather, of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Colleen Nigzus and her husband, Charles, of Harvard; Christian Roberts of Nashua, New Hampshire; and Rachel Thibodeau and her husband, Michael, of Ogden, Utah; and his stepchildren, Tammy Garofano and her husband, Howard, of Tomball, Texas; Janet Smith and her husband, Gary, of Newfields, New Hampshire; and Dianne Landry and her husband, Jock, of Rock Hill, South Carolina. He was predeceased by his stepson Raymond Landry. He is also survived by his grandchildren, James Nigzus, William Nigzus, Charles Thomas Nigzus, Mary Katheryn Roberts, Jonah Thibodeau, and Luke Thibodeau; his stepgrandchildren, Lindsey Phillips, Justin Garofano, and Robert McBride; and his great-granddaughter Eevie Phillips.
Family and friends gathered to honor and remember Leo on Tuesday, May 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Badger Funeral Home in Littleton. His funeral mass was celebrated on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, St. Theresa, the Little Flower Church, in Harvard. Burial was private at Hampton Cemetery, Hampton, New Hampshire.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alzmass.org/donate.asp. To share a memory or offer a condolence, visit www.badgerfuneral.com.
