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- The Times, Ottawa, Illinois, 18 Jul 2008
T. Robert Bassett, 1908-2008
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. - Born in Philadelphia on March 19, 1908, T. Robert Bassett, a resident of Ottawa from 1986 to 1996, died peacefully on July 14 at the age of 100 at the home of his son, Richie, in Palm Beach, Fla. where he had lived for the past 12 years.
Mr. Bassett was a talented panist and church organist who played several times as a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ottawa. He was a world traveler who visited nearly every continent and U.S.State. Bob especially loved London, and from his mid-70's until he was 92, made solo journeys to London every January to attend plays, concerts and museums. But most of all, Bob enjoyed traveling to the many events involving his grandchildren.
In Florida, he played bridge and the piano daily, swam at a community pool until he was 95, and celebrated his 100th birthday in good health with dozens of relatives, neighbors and friends.
Bob was an educator. He taught English at Penn State and Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa., headed the Friends School in Ramallah, Jordan; the American Community School in Beirut, Lebanon; the Columbus Boychoir School in Princeton, N.J.; and concluded his career as chair of the education department at Bloomfield College in New Jersey.
When he retired in 1975, Dr. Bassett wrote an inspiring text for teachers, "Education for the Individual: It's the Side Effects of Education that Count".
He is survived by his children, Richard of Palm Beach Gardens, Ruth (Munzer) Afifi of Fresno, Calif., Martha (Tom) DuHamel of Seattle, Wash., and Kathy (Dr. German) Gonzalo of Ottawa; 12 grandchldren, including Marcos Gonzalo of San Jose, Calif., Ricardo Gonzalo of Atlanta, Miguel Gonzalo of Chicago and Steven Gonzalo and Kathryn Duque of Ottawa; and 16 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Irene Piper Bassett, in 2002; his son, Edwin, and his brother, Ralph.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Ottawa Regional Hospital & Healthcare Center.
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Bassett Family Association Database
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