Robert Dawson Obituary, Death – Robert M. Dawson III, 92, of Ellington, died on November 3, 2022, as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Bob was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, and raised in Newington, Connecticut, during the Great Depression and World War II. He was a Boy Scout and enjoyed baseball. During the Korean War, he joined the United States Air Force and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he majored in “Building Engineering and Construction.” He married Margie Robertson in 1954 and relocated to Ellington a year later after graduating. Bob worked as a construction superintendent for several years and credits his expertise in the field with helping him become a better engineer.
Russell & Dawson, Architecture and Engineering was formed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1965 by him and Dan Russell. Since then, the firm has designed thousands of different types of projects, and Bob has remained knowledgeable about the technical aspects of each one. He was never happier than when he was on a construction site inspecting the progress of a structure he planned. Bob and Marge brought up their three children in Ellington, where Bob was a Deacon and Trustee of the Ellington Congregational Church. He was a member of the Fayette Lodge #69 Freemasons, the Greater Hartford Jaycees, and the MIT Alumni Association. He interviewed hundreds of MIT applicants as an MIT Educational Counselor.
Bob’s family enjoyed the unique house he constructed in Ellington for five decades, and while the makeup of the holiday and birthday parties changed over time, the smiles and laughter remained consistent – except when Bob gave the blessing at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. For 65 years, he was a caring parent and loyal spouse. Throughout their life, Bob and Marge were involved in community activities. In the 1980s, he was president of the Ellington Historical Society and a member of the commission that developed Ellington’s Arbor Park. Bob was chosen for the Ellington Wall of Honor in 2022 and attended the event on September 10th. He adored camping and being in the woods, and he spent many years hunting in Vermont with his cousins.
He liked to ski, dance, and read; his hobbies were diverse. Most importantly, he enjoyed his work, which he only stopped doing when he was 90 years old and had to isolate during the Covid pandemic. He unwinded at home by listening to Beethoven and performer Johnny Hartman. Bob was a gentleman who saw the best in everyone he met, and he was liked by everyone. His family, colleagues, and friends will all miss him greatly.
His daughter Margaret I. Dawson of Newington CT, son Robert M. Dawson IV and wife Bernadette of Sharon MA, daughter-in-law Patricia F. Dawson of Paxton MA, sister Shirley A. Dawson of Rockingham VT, and several cousins survive him. His wife, Margaret R. Dawson, and son, Douglas R. Dawson, preceded him in death. Robert M. Dawson V, Joseph D. Dawson, Celia M. Dawson, and the late Sean M. McGuinness are among his grandchildren. On Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., his family will receive guests for calling hours at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Road, Vernon, followed by a memorial ceremony at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Worcester State University’s Division of University Advancement, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA 01602.
