NEW PORTLAND – Robert “Bob” Payson Whitten, 90, of New Portland, passed away on Feb. 25, 2024, in New Portland. He was born on Oct. 19, 1933, in Augusta. Bob passed away at the family homestead where he had resided for the final third of his life.

Bob had a great passion for sailing and spending time on the water, particularly at the family camp on Lake Cobbosseecontee. His passion for boats and maritime pursuits extended across his lifetime, from the banks of the Cobbossee to the rough seas off of Marblehead, to the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean. Sailing on the Cobbossee was a great joy for Bob for decades. He was a proud winner of the prestigious Boston Yacht Club’s 210’s races multiple times. Bob had many fascinating anecdotes from his time sailing and racing in places as far afield as the Caribbean Sea.

Bob was an intellectual and something of a Renaissance man with a wide array of academic interests, as well as being a patron of the arts and a lifelong aficionado of outdoor pursuits and physical activity. He could speak knowledgeably and eloquently on a wide range of topics. From his time in Boston, Mass., to later in life in Portland, he was a committed supporter of the arts including, the symphony, ballet, and opera. Bob also found great joy in a variety of outdoor pursuits including, running, biking, hiking, skiing, and golf, among others. He frequently ran the “Gasping Gobbler” 5K on Thanksgiving morning in Augusta. Bob remained an active outdoor enthusiast well into his latter years.

Bob attended Cony High School in Augusta, and furthered his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Aeronautical Engineering. After his time at R.P.I Bob went to work for Alden Self-Transit in Massachusetts. He was a part of a team that worked on the Alden staRRcar and Self-Transit system. The concept and design were ahead of their time and are still cited today in scholarly articles on hybrid public transportation systems. A model of the StaRRcar transit system still exists on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown. As a company Alden fell on hard times due to capital shortfalls. Bob bought the Alden name and began his own company Alden Computing Systems that he ran for many years while living just outside Boston. Bob found great satisfaction as a mail carrier in the Kingfield/New Portland area later in life.

Bob is survived by his brother, Donald L. Whitten, and his wife Faye of Augusta; nieces Susan Romero, Barbara Bachmann, Debora Whitten, Sarah Whitten; grandnephew Daniel Bachman, grandniece Rachel Lacey; and a plethora of close cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles A. Whitten, mother, Muriel (Bunker) Whitten, stepmother, Dorothy (Parsons) Whitten; niece, Rebecca Whitten; and longtime partner, friend, and confidant Ashley June Ryder.

A memorial service for Bob will be held at a still-to-be-determined date later this spring in New Portland.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To leave a condolence for the family and to view the online obituary, please visit http://www.gibersonfuneralhome.com

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