Haverhill: Robert Joseph Gablosky, 88, passed away peacefully after a battle with cancer on  Monday, January 30, 2017, surrounded by his family.  "Bob" was born September 12, 1928 in Westville, NH, the son of the late Arthur J. and Blanche (Lavoie) Gablosky Tremblay.  He was raised in Westville, NH, but was a proud, lifelong resident of Haverhill.

Bob was a man of great faith, many talents and numerous accomplishments. He graduated from Haverhill High School, Class of 1948 and worked on the reunion committee. He served in the US Navy from 1950 to 1954 aboard the USS Mindoro as a typist and journalist. He attended Great Lakes Journalism School and was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas while serving in the Navy. He was a reporter and city editor for the Haverhill Gazette from 1954 until his retirement in 1982.  He also was employed by Lucent Technologies/ AT&T as a public relations specialist and published the "Valley Voice" magazine until 1989. He also attended Fitchburg State College and earned his certification in 1980 as an Instructor of Commercial Art in Vocational Education. He was an art instructor at HHS Night Programs and at other area schools.

Bob was an accomplished singer and pianist, singing with the St. Joseph's and later St. Lucy's church choir as well as a member of the "Italian Serenaders" choral group that performed in many places across the US.  He was also the past director of the Haverhill chapter of the American Red Cross and  an active member of the Plaistow Historical Society.

Bob's passion was his art. He was a locally famous artist, winning awards and accolades for his wonderful oil paintings and pen and ink sketches. He donated many paintings for worthy causes and he painted many scenes of Haverhill landmarks and historical buildings, many of which are on display at City Hall, NECC, local churches and businesses. He loved to stretch his own canvasses and create some of his own frames with weathered boards.

He founded the Greater Haverhill Arts Association in 1971 and was past president and an active member for the last 45 years. He also served on the board of the Haverhill Arts Commission. He was very involved in the Art Association Exhibits-a fixture at the "Arts in the Park" in Bradford Common every year. He established the Eagle Art Studio at his home and was an art instructor and mentor to many looking to improve their craft.  Bob and Pat were avid travelers-from numerous trips to Italy and Germany, France, Austria, Holland, a cruise to Alaska, trips to the Grand Canyon and Arizona, Yellowstone, Washington State, Oregon, Canada, Maine, coastal North Carolina and in the White Mountains of New Hampshire-anywhere he could take his camera to look for mountains, lighthouses, historical landmarks and buildings or nature scenes that would be the inspiration for his next painting.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, M. Patricia Gablosky of Haverhill, and his 3 daughters: Deborah E. Carpenter of Atkinson,  NH,  Sandra A. Anderson and her husband Hollis of E. Hampstead, NH, and Theresa M. Shaw, also of Atkinson, NH. He lovingly was called "Pepa" to the grandchildren he leaves- Katie Gaboriault  and husband Rob of Smithfield, RI, Jessica King and husband Dan of Hampstead, NH as well as Tricia Longbook, and Nicholas and Andrew Chilingirian. He was predeceased by his grandson Kevin R. Anderson in 2014. He also leaves 4 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, especially James Gablosky, Scott Farley and many, many good friends.

The Gablosky family would like to thank the staff at The Wingate of Haverhill and Merrimack Valley Hospice for their care and kindness during his illness.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Bob's Life Celebration to be held on Thursday, February 2, 2017 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. His funeral will be held on Friday at 9a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10a.m. in All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Avenue, Haverhill. A private family burial service will take place in Maplewood Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Robert J. Gablosky Memorial Scholarship Fund" and sent to the GHAA (Greater Haverhill Arts Association), 69 Farrwood Drive, Bradford, MA 01835 with "RJG Scholarship" in the memo line or to the Plaistow Historical Society, "Robert J. Gablosky Memorial Scholarship Fund", Box 434, Plaistow, NH 03865.