Robert L Bassett

Robert L. Bassett of Norton, MA, died at the age of 76 after a lengthy illness.  He leaves behind his former wife, Chaloratana Saneywongse Bassett; his children, Katherine T. Cunningham and her husband, Drew of Brockton, MA, Dr. Roberta M. Bassett and her husband, Derek Bouchard-Hall of Sorengo, Switzerland, and Violet S. LeMar and her husband Joe, of Fall River, MA.  Robert also had seven grandchildren: the late Robert Cunningham, Ryann and Maeghan Cunningham; Chaloratana and Jeannine Bassett Bouchard Hall; and Grady and Saneywongse LeMar. The oldest of three children raised in Needham, MA, he was the son of the late George Bassett and the late June (Randall) Bassett Hession. He is survived by his brother, Kenneth Bassett and his wife, Deborah, his sister Diana (Bassett) Niles, and his stepbrother Brian Hession. He was also the stepbrother of the late Mark Hession, brother-in-law of the late Kenneth Niles, and cousin of the late Daniel Petrella. He also leaves behind his niece Erin Bassett, nephew Tom Bassett and his wife Alex, as well his cousins, Catherine, Kit, Letty, Terry, and Danny Petrella.

After graduating from Needham High School, in Needham, MA, Robert served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Upon his honorable discharge, he moved his family back to the United States, where he was employed as a central office technician for the phone company. After his retirement at the age of 48, Robert graduated from CCRI, where he obtained his associate’s degree, and then from the University of Rhode Island (URI), where he obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, after which he was employed as a URI professor. Robert was a friend and mentor to many, and sponsored those who struggled with addiction, he himself a recovering alcoholic. Robert was an avid reader with a preference for Lee Child, Clive Cussler, and James Patterson novels, as well as the Harry Potter series. Robert loved to end his day listening to the radio with his cat, enjoying a cup of tea, a dish of ice cream, and a couple of Oreo cookies. May his impact on those who loved him, and the memory they have of him be eternal. After a funeral with military honors, Robert will be interred at the Massachusetts National Cemetery.

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