Obituary of Robert C. Whitmore

Robert C. Whitmore, 71, of Peabody, died Thursday at Salem Hospital after a lengthy illness. Born in Peabody on December 18, 1930, he Was the son of the late Charles and Sylvia (Troy) Whitmore and had resided in Lynn before moving back to Peabody. An avid musician, he was a gifted trumpet player and started his own Jazz Band with His father and his dear friend, Milton Kimmel during his high school years and was Fortunate to have played with music greats, Dizzie Gillespie, Stan Kenton, Tommy Dorsey and Louis Armstrong and played throughout New England. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-1954 and was a member of the Air Force Jazz Band touring throughout the country. At one Point, he was recruited by Band Leader, Les Brown and played Carnival of Venice For him and was offered a spot in his band. Following his discharge, He married Janet (Sullivan) Whitmore in 1955 and resided in Peabody for the past 47 years. He also joined General Electric in Lynn in 1955 as a Computor programmer for 18 years and taught and wrote programs there. He later Worked and N.E.C. technologies until his retirement in 1989. He then did consulting On computor systems for the Burger King Company. In 1990 he joined the Amesbury School System where he volunteered to teach computor skills to the students. This turned into a full time teaching position there and he became the Teacher of the Year in 1992 and again in 1994 and remained teaching until he retired in 1998. Surviving him besides his wife are 4 daughters and sons-in-law, Laureen & Michael Sandler of Seabrook,N.H., Kathleen & Mark Ruddock of Amesbury,Ma. Linda & Roger Jeffords of Darlington, So.Carolina and Karen & Christopher Matthews of Freemont,N.H., a brother, Leonard Whitmore of Amesbury, 2 sisters, Nancy Mussachio of Beacon,N.Y. & Jane Whitmore of Salem, Ma.;10 Grandchildren, Lindsay, Ashley and Matthew Stone and Jacob Jeffords all of So. Ca., Robert & Caitlyn Sandler of Seabrook,N.H., Ryan and Kristine Ruddock of Amesbury, Taylor Stamulas & Zachary Matthews of Freemont N.H.. and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Judith Whitmore. His Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. from the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 20 Church St., Peabody facility followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John's Church, Peabody at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. Visiting hours on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Relatives and friends kindly invited.