Robert "Bob" Alan Sargent, Sr., 89, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026, at home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, after a months-long battle with pancreatic cancer complicated by the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

Born on March 6, 1937, in Lynn, Massachusetts, and reared in nearby Saugus, Bob was the fifth of six children by Harold and Helen Sargent. He grew up with a fitness obsession, an eye for sporty cars, a competitive nature, a quick wit (he especially enjoyed what he called "busting cookies"), a natural curiosity, and a love of the outdoors—traits that stayed with him throughout his life.

Bob bought his first acoustic guitar in the 1950s and stroked tunes for his family during most of his adult life. He was a self-described afficionado of jazz music, an ardent admirer of guitar playing legends such as Eric Clapton, and he enjoyed telling stories about great performers he witnessed. He was an avid fan of the Boston Bruins and often relived for friends the time he personally met the great Bobby Orr.

Bob worked more than 30 years for the Polaroid Corporation office in Waltham, Massachusetts. He embraced a new chapter in retirement, working part‑time at Buchika's Ski and Bike Shop in Salem, New Hampshire. He enjoyed the camaraderie with younger employees, teaching the customers, and the opportunity to learn about and test the latest innovations in ski equipment and bicycles.

Bob was an athlete and an adventurer at heart. As a young man through mid-life, he was a distance runner. When he wasn't running, he relished hours spent camping and sailing his Hobie Cat with family at Sebago Lake in Maine. A knee injury ended his running obsession, at which point he took up road cycling and skiing. From his fifties to his early eighties, he often participated in endurance bike rides, competitions, and skiing outings with much younger friends.

He was insatiably curious, always learning—especially about nature and history. At times it seemed like there weren't enough books in the world for Bob to read. He was fascinated by sequoia trees and wolves, and he became a vocal advocate for conservation. His passion for wolves was further stoked when he saw eight of them in the wild during a visit to Yellowstone National Park in 2016. National parks were especially precious to him. He visited many of them with his oldest son, as well as dozens of state parks and historical sites, over the last 12 years.

In his last two decades, Bob found joy and peace in brewing beer, feeding birds, cycling (shorter rides), creating elaborate desserts for family, tending his garden, birding, and photography. He had an especially soft heart for dogs. Later in life he became a devout lover of cats.

Bob was married to Pam, his "honey bunch" and devoted wife of more than 40 years. Together they built a life filled with hugs, dancing, get-togethers with family and friends, and shared adventures including a treasured trip to Italy, vacations to the beach, going to concerts, and dinners at their favorite Italian and seafood restaurants. Bob especially enjoyed a plate overflowing with fried clams and he couldn't pass up a bowl of ice cream. One of the things he most talked about from his first trip to Yellowstone National Park was his discovery of huckleberry ice cream sold at the park.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim, sister Virginia, and his son Jeffrey. He leaves behind his wife Pam Sargent; his sisters Jean and Betty; his brother Marshall Sargent and sister-in-law Heidi; his son Robert Sargent, Jr. and daughter-in-law Carol; his daughter Lauri Sargent Fraser and son Scott Sargent; his son Chris Donovan and daughter-in-law Christina; his son Tim Donovan; his granddaughters Brooke Fraser and Molly Donovan; and his grandsons Kevin and Shawn Donovan. His memory will be cherished by extended family, friends, and all who were touched by his friendship, humor, passion for life, all too infrequent smiles, and sensitive heart.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Bob's honor this summer. There will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, either planting a native tree or contributing to Defenders of Wildlife in Bob's memory would have meant a great deal to him. Arrangments made by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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