Robert G Morse

Robert Gorham Morse, affectionately known as Bob, passed away peacefully at age 83 on July 20, 2025, surrounded by his immediate family. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend whose steady presence touched many lives.

Born May 29, 1942, Bob grew up in Millis, Massachusetts, the eldest of three children born to Robert McNeil Morse and Jane Balis Morse. Bob’s roots run deep in New England; he was the fifth in a line of Robert Morses, with his son, Rob, the sixth Robert Morse.  He attended Charles River School in Dover, Massachusetts, and Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts. Then he went on to get his bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also joined the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC). After graduation, he served in the United States Navy, where he honed his sense of discipline, duty, and commitment to something greater than himself.

Professionally, Bob spent his career in life insurance and financial planning, working for Mass Mutual and other firms, with chapters of his life unfolding in Boston, Cambridge, Winchester, Massachusetts, and Barrington and Bristol, Rhode Island. Alongside his career, Bob served his communities as a town representative and participated in various other church and civic groups, including the Providence Rotary, the Penn Club, and the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bob met the love of his life, Charlotte Ann Lathrop, from Barrington, Rhode Island and they shared nearly 50 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, adventure, and enduring companionship. Together, they raised two children, Robert McNeil Morse and Kimberly Frances Morse, first in Cambridge and later in Winchester, Massachusetts.

Bob had a life full of places he loved. As a boy, he spent magical summers at Camp Waban in Ontario, Canada, learning the joys of the wilderness. He returned often to the family cottage in Wareham, Massachusetts, a rustic seaside home that withstood hurricanes and decades—his sanctuary, shared with his sister Jane M. Morse. Growing up, he remembered taking his shoes off when he arrived and not putting them back on until Labor Day. Another treasured spot was Twin Lake Villa (TLV) in New London, New Hampshire, where Bob and his family gathered annually, building a lifetime of memories with a community of friends.

After retiring, Bob and Charlotte returned to Barrington, close to Charlotte’s family and the sea. He embraced retirement with his usual quiet passions: gardening, cooking, sailing, and astronomy. Bob was a man with a wily sense of humor and an infectious laugh who led his life with integrity and humility. He told wonderful stories and jokes and had a knack for turning simple moments into memorable ones.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Charlotte; his son Robert (Rob) and daughter-in-law Maia Bhirud Morse, of Darien, Connecticut; his daughter Kimberly and son-in-law Brian Benjamin McDevitt Goldberger, of Bristol, Rhode Island; and his cherished grandchildren: Stella Grace Morse (8), Ivy Anne Morse (5), Finn Hudson Goldberger (7), and Ava Lee Goldberger (6). He also leaves behind his dear siblings, Jane M. Morse and Daniel O. Morse, and several loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his brother Daniel’s Camphill Village community in Copake, NY https://camphillvillage.org/donate/ or to The Wareham Land Trust warehamlandtrust.org/ways-to-give/donate/

A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church 191 County Road Barrington, RI 02806,  on Saturday, August 9th, 2025 at 11:00 AM. All who knew and loved him are welcome.

Bob Morse was a tender, honest, intelligent, and principled man. His presence was always given away by his laugh, his love was constant, and his memory will be a guiding light for all who had the joy of knowing him.