Robert F. Hatem
1935 – 2022
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother
Robert F. Hatem formerly of Lowell, MA, Ogunquit, ME and a resident of Jupiter, FL passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at the age of 86.
Bob led an admirable life blessed by his loving family and many friends. He leaves behind his beautiful wife, Joanne (Murtagh) with whom he shared 67 years of togetherness.
Born in Lawrence, MA in 1935, he was the son of the late Louise (Bolus) and Ferris Hatem. Bob attended Lawrence High School and was a first-generation 1958 college graduate of Merrimack College with a degree in English. He also served in the U.S. Army reserves.
Bob cherished his children – Milissa Moynihan and her husband, Frederick of Lowell, MA, Robert Hatem, Jr. and his wife, Gail of Scarborough, ME, Michelle Hatem Meehan of Newburyport, MA and Jennifer Carey of Lowell, MA. His pride and joy were his eight grandchildren Daniel Moynihan, Leah Moynihan, Catherine Moynihan, Rachel Hatem, Robert Hatem, Nathaniel Meehan, Jake Robert Meehan and Paige Carey. His brothers Rik Hatem, Ferris Hatem, and his sister-in-law, Loraine Murtagh. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews, including Ron Hatem who was like a brother to Bob.
He was the brother of the late Ronald Hatem. Throughout his life he was touched by now deceased Eugenie and Leo Murtagh and Pauline (Murtagh) Foley.
Bob lived an accomplished life with an incredible work ethic, dedicated to excellence in the work he did. In 1960, he founded and published the Methuen Weekly News. His professional career continued in journalism at the Lowell Sun as a State House Reporter, covering the John F. Kennedy Presidency in 1963. Bob experienced and participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Walk in Washington. During Bob’s career he worked as a Congressional Aid to F. Bradford Morse and also worked for Massachusetts’ Governors Peabody, Volpe and Sargent.
His professional life moved from Journalism and Government to Higher Education. Bob managed institutional fundraising as VP of Development for Merrimack College (1965 – 1978). He was the first layman to be appointed a Vice President at this Catholic institution. After 13 years with Merrimack College, he joined Raytheon (Missile Systems Division), as Director of Community and Customer Relations and worked there for twenty years. He chaired Raytheon’s national U.S. Savings Bond Programs from 1985-1991. Post Raytheon, Bob returned to higher education and worked with Northern Essex Community College as Executive Assistant to the President. He was Chair of the college’s strategic Workforce and Economic Development Committee.
Bob’s past community activities include Commissioner of the Essex National Heritage Area, Director of the Lawrence Savings Bank, Chairman of the American Red Cross/Merrimack Valley, past President of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, Director of Lawrence General Hospital and thirty-year member of Vesper Country Club. He was the recipient of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Citizen Soldier Award and elected to the Lawrence Boys Club Hall of Fame in 1989. He also was a two-time former Congressional Candidate for the 5th District.
Tennis has always been a family sport for the Hatem’s. Bob competed throughout New England individually earning top rankings well into his late 70’s. Father-Daughter tennis was a memorable part of Bob’s life, traveling with Jennifer, from the cracked courts at Lowell’s Shedd Park to the US Open in 1986, the Newport, RI Tennis Hall of Fame, fulfilling a dream in 2005, where they won the cherished gold-ball in Chicago. Bob was awarded a USTA Service Ball recognizing 30 years of tennis volunteerism. He continued to share his love for tennis in Maine, holding free senior clinics for the Ogunquit Lobsters every Wednesday morning. He was a Member of the Jupiter Ocean and Racquet Club where he captained the Men’s’ Team. In January 2022 at the age of 86, Bob played his final round of Tennis. He was victorious.
Bob had a love for the ocean and mountains. Many years were spent enjoying time with family at the beach and on the ski slopes. He was “Gidou” to his eight grandchildren and his greatest pleasure was as their number one fan in their many activities and accomplishments. An avid reader and eloquent writer, he had extensive knowledge about politics, government, and world events. Bob was a man of strong conviction, opinion and determined to effect change. Oftentimes he said what other people thought but were afraid to speak. He was highly intelligent, of great wisdom and a devout Catholic.
Bob and Joanne shared many dances. He will be dearly missed by his beloved wife, children, and grandchildren. Summer in Maine will not be the same without Gidou but memories will remain with each passing tide.
Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL on Thursday April 21, 2022, from 4 to 7 P.M. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Friday morning April 22, 2022, at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH in LOWELL at 11 o’clock. Burial to follow. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Donations in memory of Robert F. Hatem can be made to: American Heart Association/Maine Chapter/Team Hatem https://www2.heart.org/site/Donation2?df_id=4400&PROXY_ID=669686&PROXY_TYPE=22&FR_ID=6448 or Immaculate Conception Church, 3 Fayette Street, Lowell, MA 01852. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.
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