Robert "Bob" Armand Deguise, 79, of Amherst, NH passed away unexpectedly while at home with his wife, on Thursday, August 8th, 2024.

Born in Franklin, NH on April 3rd, 1945, Bob was one of four children born to the late Gerard Joseph and Eva Cecile (Masse) Deguise. Raised in Franklin NH, he was a graduate of St. Mary's Catholic School and Franklin High School. In high school Bob played first string fullback on the football team, a team learning experience that he felt laid a foundation for his future.

Bob joined the U.S. Army National Guard in 1964 as part of the 197th Artillery unit, was activated and deployed to Vietnam in 1968, completed his service in Korea, and was honorably discharged in 1969.

After high school Bob spent a few years at Sprague Electric, then moved to CT to work as a jet engine test technician for Pratt & Whitney. It was one of his proudest career moves, allowing him to make a contribution to our military and the country's national defense. After P&W, in the 1970s, Bob moved into sales as regional director for Holiday Magic, a party sales and distribution company for natural cosmetics. He acted as mentor and trainer for party planners in Brooklyn and Harlem and took pride in helping stay-at-home Moms grow their business skills and develop successful, lucrative careers.

Bob then ventured into the emerging world of high tech, starting as a programmer and developing into an admired technology manager, consultant and teacher. After two years at Associated Data Systems where he met his lovely wife, in 1978 Bob joined the burgeoning Digital Equipment Corp. as a software developer where he enjoyed the work and the company. Many of his oldest and dearest friends to this day, came from his interactions at DEC.  After nine years at DEC, Bob moved into business process consulting, specializing in MRPII and ERP. He had a natural talent for analyzing manufacturing business operations and detecting areas for meaningful improvement, which earned him the trust of clients in many industries, and yes, another group of dear, longtime friends who changed his life.

From the 1980s through the 2000s, both Bob and his wife were traveling extensively for business and would often rendezvous in foreign locations for a bit of adventure. Bob particularly enjoyed his time in Geneva, Switzerland, the UK and the joint trips to Japan and China for work and vacation, making life friends all over the world who still grace their lives.

Bob never saw an exotic car he didn't covet, so a few passed through his garages over the years, rarely driven, always admired.  When Bob semi-retired in the 2000s, he began focusing on two challenging hobbies – woodworking and ancestry. Everyone who spent time with him knew about his passion for the study of genealogy and the extensive research required to make breakthrough discoveries.  Many families benefited from that passion, were able to place their ancestors in history, and found long lost parents, siblings and cousins as a result of his work. He became "family" to all of the people he helped.

Bob was a passionate learner of new things and would subtly suggest others do the same – to dream big, believe in themselves and be proud of their accomplishments.

Bob lived his life according to a righteous, honest, moral set of values that he learned during an upbringing with older parents in the late 1940s. He enjoyed being with the WWII generation, believing this was truly his era, then bridged the gap to connect with his own age group in meaningful, cherished, long term friendships.  Bob's smile, his laugh, his quick wit, and his intellect always made time together more memorable.  He was humble but confident, always bringing a sense of comfort and stability. For the many he mentored, Bob would listen, analyze, teach and often advise, but rarely judged, allowing for all perspectives to be valid.  He was also an energetic storyteller and loved to make people laugh. His caring neighbors, who he loved dearly, will miss their "tools" guy, his experience-based advice, strong handshakes and big hugs.  To children he was a big teddy bear and to the adults in his life, Bob was a strong, loving man who lived a values-based life.

Bob is pre-deceased by two siblings, his older brother, Gerard "Jack" Deguise and his only sister, Cecile Lockwood.

He will be forever loved and cherished by his wife of 43 years, Barbara (Basiliere) Deguise; his brother Paul Deguise and wife, Gail, and sister-in-law, Nancy Deguise; his sister-in-law Jane and her husband, Alan Heacock; and three brothers-in-law, Paul Basiliere and his longtime companion, Cheryl Kalns, Thomas Basiliere and his wife Sharon Syrek, and Robert Basiliere and his wife Judith. Bob loved his numerous nieces and nephews more than they knew and so enjoyed getting to know them as individuals. They are happy and proud that he was their uncle.  The extended family of cousins on both sides of the family were precious to Bob, and provided a family foundation for him that was an important part of his world.

A gathering of friends and family will be held at the Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack NH on August 26th from 3 – 6 PM.  On August 27th at precisely 12PM a service for Bob will be held in the chapel at the NH Veteran's Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen NH.  All are welcome to both gatherings.

For those who wish, memorial donations in Bob's memory can be made to his favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Hospital. To honor Bob in a more personal way, do what he would do and hold a party with your best friends, toast the good life and give each other a hug. That's what made Bob happiest.