My first meeting with Bob was in Little League when he was pitching to me in a game! His first pitch came right at my head and I bailed out my helmet going one way, my bat the other way and I landed on my backside. I was stunned when I looked up and the ball was in the catcher’s mitt over the heart of the plate and the umpire was calling strike one. Bob had thrown me the first curve ball I had ever seen from the batter’s box! Two pitches later I was headed back to the bench having struck out without ever swinging at the ball. Nevertheless, I was in good company as Bobby would strike out many more in Little League, Babe Ruth League and all throughout high school. In fact, he was one of the best pitchers in Fairfield County!
Bob was truly a gifted athlete. He was a three sport star throughout high school. As quarterback he led our football team to a state championship in our senior year. He was a natural leader and calm no matter what was happening in the game. His leadership was not limited to the playing field and he was elected as our Junior Class President. Bobby was a talented student and was always willing to assist less gifted classmates! He also enjoyed a little mischief. One weekend night in high school a group of us decided it would be fun and a good idea (not) to go swimming in our skivvies in several of the local swimming pools. We were concluding the evening sometime after midnight at the New Canaan Country Club pool when we spotted the flashing lights of a police car pull into the parking lot. We all made a mad dash for a driveway but none of us saw a chain across the entrance which Bobby and I hit at full speed flipping us over into a couple of somersaults and causing great pain. Bob and I and the rest of us limped to the car and got away. The police did not pursue us. I always suspected they knew who we were because they had coached all of us throughout the years in the town’s youth sports programs – New Canaan was blessed with some really great police officers. We had some good laughs over the years recounting this adventure!
Bob went off to the University of Virginia and I would see him if only for a beer or two in the summers. After graduation he was drafted and we chatted on the phone before he headed off to basic training. I never ran into him in the service. The next time I saw him was at our 20th reunion and we had a good chat catching up on the last 16 years. He told me that he had started his own business in Charlotte – Patterson Business Machines! In 1997, my younger son graduated from college and took a job in Charlotte. I had not seen Bobby since the reunion and while visiting my son I looked up his company in the yellow pages and called asking to speak to Mr. Bob Patterson. There was a long pause on the other end and I quickly introduced myself as a high school classmate. The gentleman on the other end of the phone, who I think introduced himself as Bob’s son in law, informed me that Bobby had passed away several years earlier. I was deeply saddened at this news. Death steps in early sometimes and calls our best away. Bob was certainly one of our best!
What a nice tribute - and memories, Bill, of Bob Patterson. My heart always sank when I came to play a Little League or Babe Ruth League game at Mead Park and Bob was warming up on the mound. Serious business for him and usually an 0 for 3 game for me. A talented athlete and all-around nice guy. Glad we had a chance to spend a bit of time growing up together.
I was very saddened to hear about Bob's early death. Although I never kept up with him I remember him as a terrific person and an unparalleled athlete!
Thanks so much for letting us know so much of Bob's life. He was a gentleman, warm, friendly and i really appreciated hearing about what he accomplished.
My strongest memories of Bobby are from Center School. Suzi Rabe, myself, Joey DiPanni and Bobby used to play a game we called "comb". Either the girls or the boys would grab a comb (must have been one of the boys) and we'd run and try not to get caught. Such an innocent game of flirtation...Sorry to loose you BP!
For a minute I thought Bill had written my comment, except I didn't just bail out, I went right down in the batter's box dust, dropping my bat and grabbing key parts of my anatomy. When I heard "steeerike one" I was dumbfounded. I literally have a perfect image of that pitch to this day. But Bobby was more that just a great athlete to me, he was the first redhead who was proud to be different and taught me to be proud of my uniqueness. I will always be grateful to him for that and the many memories we shared. He was a class act and we were luck to have him in our class.
Bob Patterson was one of my best friends during my New Canaan years. I had tried to reconnect with him over the years with no success. So it was sad, when I first found the NCHS site, to learn that he had passed.
I was last with Bob in class at NCHS on the day that JFK was assinated. All after school athletic practices were canceled. We went to Bob's house, with Chuch Saacke, I believe, and a few others, shot baskets in his driveway, and were uncharacteristically quiet.
I moved to Lake Forest Illinois the next week.
If anyone has any contact information about Bob's wife or children, I have a five minute film taken in October, 1963 of my "going-away" party in my backyard that features several dozen NCHS class friends, with Bob well featured. Would like to share it with them.
Bill Saunders
My first meeting with Bob was in Little League when he was pitching to me in a game! His first pitch came right at my head and I bailed out my helmet going one way, my bat the other way and I landed on my backside. I was stunned when I looked up and the ball was in the catcher’s mitt over the heart of the plate and the umpire was calling strike one. Bob had thrown me the first curve ball I had ever seen from the batter’s box! Two pitches later I was headed back to the bench having struck out without ever swinging at the ball. Nevertheless, I was in good company as Bobby would strike out many more in Little League, Babe Ruth League and all throughout high school. In fact, he was one of the best pitchers in Fairfield County!
Bob was truly a gifted athlete. He was a three sport star throughout high school. As quarterback he led our football team to a state championship in our senior year. He was a natural leader and calm no matter what was happening in the game. His leadership was not limited to the playing field and he was elected as our Junior Class President. Bobby was a talented student and was always willing to assist less gifted classmates! He also enjoyed a little mischief. One weekend night in high school a group of us decided it would be fun and a good idea (not) to go swimming in our skivvies in several of the local swimming pools. We were concluding the evening sometime after midnight at the New Canaan Country Club pool when we spotted the flashing lights of a police car pull into the parking lot. We all made a mad dash for a driveway but none of us saw a chain across the entrance which Bobby and I hit at full speed flipping us over into a couple of somersaults and causing great pain. Bob and I and the rest of us limped to the car and got away. The police did not pursue us. I always suspected they knew who we were because they had coached all of us throughout the years in the town’s youth sports programs – New Canaan was blessed with some really great police officers. We had some good laughs over the years recounting this adventure!
Bob went off to the University of Virginia and I would see him if only for a beer or two in the summers. After graduation he was drafted and we chatted on the phone before he headed off to basic training. I never ran into him in the service. The next time I saw him was at our 20th reunion and we had a good chat catching up on the last 16 years. He told me that he had started his own business in Charlotte – Patterson Business Machines! In 1997, my younger son graduated from college and took a job in Charlotte. I had not seen Bobby since the reunion and while visiting my son I looked up his company in the yellow pages and called asking to speak to Mr. Bob Patterson. There was a long pause on the other end and I quickly introduced myself as a high school classmate. The gentleman on the other end of the phone, who I think introduced himself as Bob’s son in law, informed me that Bobby had passed away several years earlier. I was deeply saddened at this news. Death steps in early sometimes and calls our best away. Bob was certainly one of our best!
Norm Sweeters
What a nice tribute - and memories, Bill, of Bob Patterson. My heart always sank when I came to play a Little League or Babe Ruth League game at Mead Park and Bob was warming up on the mound. Serious business for him and usually an 0 for 3 game for me. A talented athlete and all-around nice guy. Glad we had a chance to spend a bit of time growing up together.
Peter Rucci
I was very saddened to hear about Bob's early death. Although I never kept up with him I remember him as a terrific person and an unparalleled athlete!
Candy Creamer (Sweet)
Thanks so much for letting us know so much of Bob's life. He was a gentleman, warm, friendly and i really appreciated hearing about what he accomplished.
Maggy Wolf (Gilbert)
My strongest memories of Bobby are from Center School. Suzi Rabe, myself, Joey DiPanni and Bobby used to play a game we called "comb". Either the girls or the boys would grab a comb (must have been one of the boys) and we'd run and try not to get caught. Such an innocent game of flirtation...Sorry to loose you BP!
Barry DeLapp
For a minute I thought Bill had written my comment, except I didn't just bail out, I went right down in the batter's box dust, dropping my bat and grabbing key parts of my anatomy. When I heard "steeerike one" I was dumbfounded. I literally have a perfect image of that pitch to this day. But Bobby was more that just a great athlete to me, he was the first redhead who was proud to be different and taught me to be proud of my uniqueness. I will always be grateful to him for that and the many memories we shared. He was a class act and we were luck to have him in our class.
Frederick Cullen
Bob Patterson was one of my best friends during my New Canaan years. I had tried to reconnect with him over the years with no success. So it was sad, when I first found the NCHS site, to learn that he had passed.
I was last with Bob in class at NCHS on the day that JFK was assinated. All after school athletic practices were canceled. We went to Bob's house, with Chuch Saacke, I believe, and a few others, shot baskets in his driveway, and were uncharacteristically quiet.
I moved to Lake Forest Illinois the next week.
If anyone has any contact information about Bob's wife or children, I have a five minute film taken in October, 1963 of my "going-away" party in my backyard that features several dozen NCHS class friends, with Bob well featured. Would like to share it with them.