By Angie Francalancia
BOCA RATON — Robert “Bob” Yamartino, who had spent nearly 30 winters at the Yacht & Racquet Club of Boca Raton, died peacefully there on Nov. 24. He was 94.
He loved his ocean view and dinners at the poolside Chickee Bar at the club.
“Any time you’d look up, you’d wave at Bob,” said a long-time neighbor and friend, Ellie Pomerantz. “He loved to sit on the balcony.”
Bob and wife, Ann, frequented the Chickee Bar, a hub of activity at the Yacht & Racquet Club, Pomerantz said.
“You see everybody. And Ann and Bob did like to go down there. On Tuesday nights we’d have dinner with them,” she said. “We’re going to miss him. We’re glad he’s at peace and we’re glad he got to spend his last months of his life down here because this is where he truly wanted to be.”
“The Chickee Bar will never be the same for us,” another friend added on his obituary guest book.
Mr. Yamartino of Framington, Mass., was born Nov. 5, 1917. A 1935 graduate of Waltham High School and the Waltham Watch Horological School, he was a master watchmaker and long-time owner of Shawmut Jewelry Co. of Boston.
Mr. Yamartino loved music, and played bass in several bands over four decades. He was an active leader on the Waltham Auxiliary Police force.
In addition to a love for the ocean, Mr. Yamartino enjoyed golfing as a member of the Framingham Country Club.
In addition to his wife of 31 years, Mr. Yamartino, is survived by his children, Janet M. and Paul Upham of Pawling, New York, Robert J. Yamartino Jr., Maxine Sclar of Portland, Maine, Paul D. and Kathryn Yamartino of Acton; and stepchildren Cyndi L. Boucher-Lahhoud of Framingham, and Scott C. and Brenda Crossman of Mendon.
He also is survived by two younger brothers, Ernest, of Wakefield, Mass., and Raymond, of Wayland, Mass., 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Dec. 10 at St. Bridget’s Church in Framingham.
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