Colin F. Robertson, 94

GILFORD — Colin Fraser Robertson, 94, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away quietly at home on April 18, 2024, under Helios Care, with his loving family and faithful caregivers at his side. 

Colin was born on July 26, 1929, in Arlington, Massachusetts, to Colin Baxter and Margaret Robertson. He was their only child. Following his mother’s early death, his father remarried a widow and Colin gained a dearly-loved sister, Margaret “Peg” Wilson.

In high school, Colin shared a homeroom assignment with his sweetheart and future wife of 67 years, Mary Roper, graduating in 1947. He went on to Yale University, entered the Marine Corps ROTC, and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, class of 1951. He and Mary were married on March 1, 1952, six weeks prior to his deployment to South Korea as a second lieutenant. While working with the Marine Corps of Engineers, Colin installed culverts to support roads, built bridges and hospitals, rebuilt schools and housing units and volunteered for active-duty combat. During his service, he was promoted to captain, earned a Purple Heart, and was honorably discharged in 1955.

Upon his safe return, Mary tended their first-born son and worked part-time while Colin attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a degree in civil engineering, class of 1955. Shortly after, he worked in Boston on the digging and building of the Callahan Tunnel. Tired of working underground, Colin took a job in California with Aerojet General, serving as lead engineer for the engine designs of the Apollo rocket series for NASA, which can now be found at the Smithsonian Museum. During these years, an additional son and daughter were added to their growing family. Colin also found time for his favorite pastime — hockey — playing for a semi-pro team called the Bergie Blues.

When Colin’s father required care, the family returned to Massachusetts, where Colin worked for Northern Research & Engineering in Cambridge. In 1972, the family moved to the 1761 homestead in Gilford, known as Mount Gunstock Farm. Colin worked for the City of Laconia and his former Marine Corps C.O., Col. Frank DeNormandie — what an incredible reunion. After inheriting the family property, Colin realized he must work hard to preserve the heritage his parents left him and he and Mary formed a development business, Robertson Construction Co., Inc. As a general contractor, he built a development overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee on Mount Gunstock land, a former 19th century summer campground, with roads named to honor his family’s legacy: Robertson Drive, Baxter Court, Margaret Way, and Colmar Court.

This chapter of their lives also included a tour of five years in China during the early 1980s, where Colin was the project manager within the construction and maintenance division of the U.S. State Department, building two new U.S. Embassies in Beijing. This work helped finance the continuation of Dockham Shore Forest Estates and Gilford Water Company, designed to service the 60 homes in the development. Upon returning to the U.S.A., Colin found new friends and colleagues in the Rotary and Toastmaster clubs, which he enjoyed immensely.

When the volume of housing construction slowed down, he began a new chapter working as clerk of the works on many school projects throughout New Hampshire. He also realized a life-long dream of rebuilding and renovating the 1761 family homestead, Mt. Gunstock Inn, adding on to the old house the former general store from the campground. He also completely remodeled the last of the campground cottages, known as the California.

Until the last year, Colin remained independent and active, enjoying family visits and many friends, traveling between New Hampshire, New York, and Connecticut, also attending Belmont Baptist Church and Community Bible Chapel in New York. 

Colin is survived by a son, John of Nashua; a son, James and wife Cindy of Newtown, Connecticut; a daughter, Gail and husband Tim of Springfield Center, New York; grandchildren William, Ashli, Colin, Forest, Elissa, Lindsay and Evan; 17 great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

Colin was predeceased by his parents, his wife Mary, and his sister, Peg.

Memorial services will be held at Community Bible Chapel in Cooperstown, New York, on Saturday, May 11, at 11 a.m., and Belmont Baptist Church on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m.

A full military honors service will be held at Old Post Chapel, Fort Meyer, Arlington National Cemetery, at a date to be announced in the future when ANC provides it to the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Towers to Tunnels Foundation. Arrangements are under the care of Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, New York, with cremation taking place at The Leatherstocking Crematory, Cherry Valley.