Robert P. Watelet ’54

Robert P. Watelet ’54, of West Hatfield, Mass.; Apr. 13, after a brief illness. After graduating with a mechanical engineering degree, he worked in various space agency programs. He worked with Rocketdyne during the height of the space-race era developing rocket propulsion systems of various types before returning to the East Coast to continue with the Apollo program developing heat shield technology for re-entry. He later worked as an engineer for Kontro, Inc. (Mass.) before retiring. He was an auto racing enthusiast. After having raced a variety of sports cars with the SCCA, he built his own race car and competed successfully in both California and various tracks in New England. In retirement, he worked at the Yankee Candle Car Museum and worked as an orientation specialist at Northampton Senior Fitness Center. He was an active member of College Church for more than 36 years, where he served as an elder and hosted weekly Bible studies in his home. He also enjoyed skiing, playing tennis, and piloting smaller recreational aircraft. He is survived by his wife, Carol; three children; four grandchildren; two stepdaughters and their families of seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.