Robert Goddard

Robert Gard Goddard passed peacefully on February 28, 2026, surrounded by his sisters and brothers, and Pastor, Elders and members of his church, after a long battle with cancer. He was born August 15, 1951, in Laconia, NH, the third child (of six children) of Claude and Doris Goddard.

Bob’s family moved around during Bob’s early years as his father took work assignments in support of the US Air Force, but the family eventually returned to live in Meredith. Bob had especially fond memories of living on Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico (where he first learned to golf); spending summers at the family’s camps on Silver Lake in Lochmere and on Lake Waukewan in Meredith when the family lived in Massachusetts and on Long Island, New York. Once the family moved permanently to Meredith, he loved to go fishing, hunting, ice skating, skiing, and camping.

Bob attended Inter Lakes High School, where he was a member of the golf, cross- country and soccer teams. He also had a short career as a ski jumper, which ended when he took a bad fall. Additionally, he played the Sousaphone in the high school band, sang with the Chorus, and worked in the library. After graduating from Inter Lakes, Bob attended the University of New Hampshire. He left college to work as a cook at restaurants in the Seacoast areas of New Hampshire and Maine. He later earned a Master’s degree in Management; a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management; and a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems. He was a professor of business and dean at McIntosh College and Franklin Pierce College, before ending his career and retiring as a professor and dean at St. Joseph’s College in Rutland, Vermont. He was a well-like and highly respected professor and dean, earning accolades from students and colleagues alike.

Bob married the love of his life, Marsha Hodgson, in 1985, and the couple lived in Newmarket and Exeter, New Hampshire and later in Rutland, Vermont. Together, they guided Marsha’s two sons, Jeffry and Ken, through their teenage years and into adulthood. They also enjoyed playing card and board games, spending summer vacations in Ogunquit, and traveling together. Bob always put family first in his life, and family treasured the time they spent with him. He was devoted to Marsha, her boys and their grandchildren, as well as to his parents and siblings.

Bob and Marsha were actively involved in their religious life in Exeter and Rutland, before Marsha passed in 2020. Bob continued his religious involvement until his death. He was an elder in the Calvary Bible Church of Rutland, participated in Bible study groups and mentored many young people and members of his church. His Pastor writes that “Bob displayed both bold and humble leadership as an elder of the Church. His ability to solve problems, his love for Jesus, and his heart to serve others led Bob to impact countless people. He was a man of conviction who loved to study the Bible and found great joy in inspiring others to read it for themselves.” Bob hoped to travel to the Holy Land to further his religious studies, but the Covid pandemic prevented him from doing so. He was a loved, well-respected and valued member of his church community. His family is especially grateful for the care and attention of the Pastor, Elders and members of his church in his final days.

In addition to his church involvement, Bob was an excellent and skilled golfer, who played with old-fashioned persimmon driver and fairway woods. He could hit the ball further and more accurately with those clubs than most players can with newer, larger and more-forgiving clubs. Bob also loved building things. He contributed many hours of work to remodeling his church and building projects for Habitat for Humanity and other organizations serving poorer populations in the United States and Europe. Bob loved to cook. He applied his cooking talents for his church community—baking delicacies for post-service snacks and preparing meals for church events. He also insisted on being cook-in-chief at countless family events and dinners. Bob also enjoyed playing, and teaching others to play games of all sorts. He was a whiz at Cribbage, and he especially enjoyed enduring his brothers’ trash talk while calmly thrashing them at the game. He was equally adept at Backgammon, and he knew virtually all the answers to trivia questions, as well. Although he liked to win, he always took more enjoyment from the fun of the game.

Bob was predeceased by his loving wife, Marsha, and by his parents. He is survived by his stepsons Jeffrey (Vanessa) and Kenneth (Deidre), and his five siblings, Crystal Wolfe (Doug), Nelson Goddard (Jeanne), Claude, Jr., Corinne Pike and Kimberly Goddard. He is also survived by the children of Jeff (Malacai Colebank (Stephanie), Jessika Bishop (Corbin); Hannah Hodgson, Joshua Hodgson (Corbin), and Patrick Hodgson) and Ken (Kaira and Matthias), grandchildren (Millie, Conrad, Kaspar and Edith Bishop, and Eli and Foster Hodgson), as well as by his siblings’ children, Heather (Richard) Bauer, Cassandra (Aaron) Wolfe, Kendra (Scot) Reinmann, Nicole Goddard, Natalie (David) O’Mara, Marian (Adam) Carpenter, Nora (David Cole) Goddard, Matthew (Lizzie) Pike, Samuel Pike, Kirby (Justin) Corliss, and Kody Hamel, and sibling grandchildren (Rebecca and Emily Bauer; Lana and Jillian Ward; Jackson and Noah Reinmann; Jude, Milo and Levi O’Mara; George and Teddy Carpenter; Elias, Stella and Theadora Cole; Sophie and Sage Pike; and Harlow and Cooper Corliss).

A funeral service is scheduled for 11 am on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Calvary Bible Church, 2 Meadow Lane, Rutland, VT 05701. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Calvary Bible Church.