Robert A Cento

Robert A. Cento, age 90, died peacefully at his home, in East Walpole, MA on September 25. A devoted husband and loving father, he was married for 56 years to Caroline ( Everett), who predeceased him. He is survived by his five children; Robert, of Norwood, MA (and his wife, Linda); Peter, of Greenbelt, MD; Daniel, of Annapolis, MD; John, of East Walpole, MA; and Caroline of Eugene, OR; and his three grandsons: Robert, Benjamin, and Everett. He was a graduate of Walpole High School (1949) and Boston College (1953). He received his MA in Education from UMass Boston (1965). After graduation from Boston College, he married Caroline, his high school sweetheart, and was inducted into the Army, where he served his country during the Korean Conflict, as a radio operator stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. Caroline soon joined him there, and not long after, their first child Robert was born.Upon discharge from the Army, he returned to Walpole to begin a 37-year career in the Walpole Public Schools as a teacher, guidance counselor, and principal of East Junior High School (now Bird Middle School). Three more sons followed until, finally, Carrie, his only daughter arrived.

The true pleasure and delight of his life was his family, to which he devoted every moment of his free time, raising Shetland ponies, coaching his sons’ and daughter’s Little League teams, enjoying summer living at the family cottage in Westport, MA, cooking Italian, and finally traveling the world with Caroline upon their retirement. He was a kind and gentle man, as constant as the North Star, and the best teacher, role model, and father a son or daughter could ever hope for. DLYAL.  Visiting hours will be held Saturday from 10-12 at the Alexander F. Thomas & Sons Funeral Home, 45 Common Street, Walpole.   Interment at Maple Grove Cemetery, Walpole. In lieu of flowers, donations in Robert’s name can be made to VNA Hospice Care, 120 Thomas Street, Worcester, MA 01608.

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