Dr. Robert John Fallon, 83, of Lunenburg, MA and Vero Beach, FL, a long-time veterinarian, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 21, in Vero Beach, FL.

            Bob was born on November 3, 1928, in Fitchburg, MA, the son of the late William J. and Roby I. (Madigan) Fallon and lived most of his life in Lunenburg.

            He was a loving husband to his wife of more than 60 years, Madeleine M. (DeCarolis) Fallon and father of three children, a son, Dr. Michael J. Fallon and his wife, Susan (Oster) Fallon of Lunenburg, and two daughters, Anne M. Leader and her husband, Leonard of Leominster and Carolyn M. McLaughlin of Leominster.  He is survived by six grandchildren, Robert, Daniel and James Leader of Leominster, Katelyn and Allison McLaughlin of Leominster, and Kendall Fallon of Lunenburg, his brother, Dr. Philip M. Fallon and many nieces and nephews.  His brother, Attorney William J. Fallon and sister, Mary A. Smith Gallagher pre-deceased him.

            Bob was a graduate of Fitchburg High School, class of 1946.  He served with the Army of Occupation in Japan for two years, and then went on to earn a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952 and a DVM from the University of Montreal School of Veterinary Medicine in 1958.  In 1963, Bob and Madeleine established the Fallon Animal Clinic, Inc. in Lunenburg. Dr. Fallon always took the time to ensure the well-being and comfort of the animals he cared for.  In addition to his almost fifty years as a veterinarian, Dr. Fallon was a director and member of the Finance Committee of Fidelity Co-operative Bank from 1977 to 2001, was a life member of both the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, was an active member of his Fitchburg High class reunion committee and member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Lunenburg and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach.

            Bob did many crossword puzzles a day, enjoyed vegetable gardening and was an avid tennis player, a past member of both Oak Hill Country Club and Orchard Hills Tennis Club. In later years, he took up golf and enjoyed playing regularly with friends in both Massachusetts and Florida.  He loved sports, especially baseball and his two favorite teams, the Boston Red Sox and the Miami Marlins. He looked forward to attending spring training games when the Dodgers trained in Vero Beach.

    He is already missed and lovingly remembered by his family and many friends.  We wish him a fond farewell: as Bob would say, “Go straight home now!”

    His Funeral was celebrated on Saturday, March 31, from the Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 763 Mass Ave., Lunenburg, MA, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Boniface Church, 817 Mass Ave., Lunenburg.  Burial, with Military Honors, will follow in St. Leo’s Cemetery in Leominster.  Calling hours were at the Funeral Home on Friday, March 30, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

    The wish of Bob’s family is to set up a scholarship fund in his memory for a student who is pursuing an education to become a Veterinarian or Veterinary Technician. Thus in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Robert J. Fallon Scholarship Fund, 14 Manning Ave., Suite 500, Leominster, MA 01453 or may be left at the Funeral Home.