Robert “Bob” J. McMakin Jr., 69, of Plymouth, passed away suddenly on June 10. He was the devoted husband of Kathryn E. (Wentworth) McMakin, loving father of Katie Marie McMakin of Plymouth, Kimberly Ann Setzer and her husband Eric of Plymouth, and Keryn Joyce Ford and her husband Matt of Glastonbury, CT; grandfather of Blanche Ivy, Bodhi Oliver, Camden John, and Myles Joseph; and brother of Nancy Scherber of Easton and David McMakin and his wife, Lisa Gail, of Waynesboro, VA. Bob is also survived by his mother, Eva McMakin of Holbrook, mother in-law Joyce Wentworth of Stoneham, as well as many brothers and sisters in-law, nieces and nephews.
Born in Brockton on May 31, 1955, son of Eva M. (Fasolino) McMakin and the late Robert J. McMakin, Sr., Bob grew up in Holbrook and was a graduate of Holbrook High School, class of 1973. He then went on to Marquette University. He began his career with SS Pierce Food service, where he met the love of his life. Bob and Kathy married in 1980. The two raised their children in Carver and later moved to Glastonbury, CT. After Bob retired from his position as president of Sysco Connecticut, he and Kathy moved to their beloved summer home in Plymouth on Priscilla Beach.
Bob was an active member in the Plymouth community. He was the past president and current member of the Plymouth Sunrise Rotary Club. As a man of charity, he spent six years volunteering for the Pan Mass Challenge Bike Ride, and after losing his father to cancer he completed the 192-mile bike ride for 10 years.
His faith was a prominent part of his and Kathy’s life. Bob was a eucharistic minister and active parishioner at St. Bonaventure’s Church, as well as an extremely involved member of the Holy Cross Retreat House since October 1990, when he lived his first Cursillo. Shortly after his first Cursillo, Bob and his family became involved with My Brother’s Keeper, helping to serve those in need all around Brockton and surrounding communities. Bob was also actively involved in a Men’s Prayer Group in Plymouth where he had an everlasting impact on the men who are his forever brothers in faith.
Bob had the biggest heart, with so much love to give to everyone he crossed paths with. Whether you were a close friend or a stranger on the streets of Plymouth, you could feel his warmth and caring nature at first glance, and you could see his sense of humor and larger-than-life personality within minutes. He would immediately make you feel like a close friend after just one conversation. Bob was the definition of a good man with the kindest soul. He genuinely cared about everyone around him and the community he lived in. Above all, Bob loved and cherished his wife and their three girls more than anything in the world. It brought him so much joy to be a husband, father, and grandfather. If you asked Bob what his greatest accomplishment in life was, it would undoubtedly be marrying the love of his life and raising three beautiful daughters. His two youngest, Kim and Keryn, blessed him with two sons-in law, Eric and Matt, with whom he shared his love of Boston sports, and four beautiful grandchildren who he often raved about. He was so proud of his girls and his family, and held them all closest to his heart.
A Mass will take place at St. Bonaventure Church, 803 State Road, Plymouth, on Thursday June 20, at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Vine Hills Cemetery, 102 Samoset St., Plymouth. All are welcome to join in a celebration of Bob’s life after the burial, at the Priscilla Beach Club House 765 Rocky Hill Road, Plymouth. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Holy Cross Retreat House of North Easton, or to My Brother’s Keeper of North Easton.