Robert "Bob" Edson

Bob Edson has told his final story and played his last prank. He passed away at the age of 81 on October 28, 2026 leaving behind family and many friends who will spend the rest of their lives repeating his best lines and telling ‘Bob stories’.

Robert (Bob) Paul Edson was born on January 24, 1945, in Medford, Massachusetts, to Clarence and Margaret (Crawford) Edson and was the eldest of nine siblings. He grew up in Charlestown, Somerville, and Reading, graduating from Reading High School in 1962, where he was an active member of the cross country and track teams. He earned a BS in Accounting and an MBA from Suffolk University.

A long-time resident of Wakefield, Massachusetts; Bob dedicated decades of his life to public service, volunteering across numerous leadership roles. He served on the Board of Trustees at Suffolk University, as President of the Suffolk Alumni Association, the Wakefield School Committee, Wakefield Capital Planning Committee, and the Board of Trustees at the First Parish Congregational Church of Wakefield. Professionally, Bob dedicated 49 years to the United States Government working at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as an auditor, ultimately serving as a Lead Auditor of the Office of Child Support Enforcement.

Bob enjoyed storytelling, practical jokes, and was an all-around fun, kind, and unforgettable guy. He was an avid runner, jogging Lake Quannapowitt with his loyal dog, Molly, for many years. He loved cooking for family and friends, hosting lobster dinners, corned beef and cabbage, and making his legendary party snack. If you stopped by the house to visit, you would likely find him out in his yard gardening and taking care of his chickens. He loved experimenting with new crops, from horseradish and peanuts to potatoes.

Summers and time off were spent at his beloved camp in Woolwich, Maine where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, antiquing and puttering around. Every winter, he looked forward to the annual “ice fishing” trip at the camp with the guys; where the shenanigans may have outpaced the fishing.

Bob was a loving husband and a devoted dad. He is survived by his wife, Gayle Harvey Edson, and his daughters, Danielle Edson Pierce and her husband Walter of West Roxbury, Mass., and Christina O’Neil and her husband Grady of North Berwick, Maine. He leaves behind his siblings: Peggy Ann Edson, Jimmy Edson, Rosie Edson, Ricky Edson, June Edson-Frisiello, John Edson, and Matt Edson; many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Tommy Edson.

Bob made an impression on everyone he met and left them all with a story to tell.

Visitation for relatives and friends to remember Bob will be held on at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Friday, November 6th, from 3 – 6 pm

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Bob’s memory to WGBH Educational Foundation or Mass Audubon Society.