Robert Brian Goulder
Robert Brian Goulder, 77, of Amherst, New Hampshire, died peacefully with family by his side on May 13, 2024 after a prolonged illness. Robert was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1946 to Morton and Claire (Heckmann) Goulder and moved to Hollis, New Hampshire as a young boy. Known by most people as Bob, he attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 1968 with a degree in Zoology, before joining the Air Force in 1969 and being honorably discharged in 1975. Following his service, Bob joined Matthew Thornton Health Care as a medical lab technician and worked there for over 20 years.
In 1968 he married Wendy (Clough) Goulder, with whom he had two sons, Travis and Reid before divorcing. Bob was a devoted father, who was extremely proud of his sons and committed countless hours traveling with them throughout New England for their junior, high school and college tennis tournaments and playing with them on the courts at Hampshire Hills.
In Bob’s younger years, he was an avid hiker, ultimately summiting all 48 of the 4,000 footers of New Hampshire in 1997. Throughout his later years, Bob enjoyed his monthly breakfasts with his Hollis High School classmates, was still frequenting the tennis courts and walking his beloved Labrador Retrievers (Princess, Jess, or Gracie) around town while stopping to chat with people and pet their dogs. He also faithfully spent time cultivating his vast garden of vegetables, berries and fruit trees. If you were a local, you may have stopped by his roadside farmstand by the big oak tree. During his final days, he spoke often of wanting to get the garden planted as the weather was finally cooperating.
Bob cherished his sons, his daughter-in-law Kerry (Travis) and being “Grandpa” to his beautiful granddaughters Mia and Elliot. He loved reading books with them when they were little, playing various games throughout the years, sharing great movies at each visit and watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade or football game while snacking on a charcuterie board.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents Morton E. Goulder and Claire T. Goulder (Heckmann) and ex-wife Wendy (Clough) Goulder. He is survived by his two sons Travis (Kerry) Goulder of Scarborough, ME; Reid Goulder of Amherst, NH; his two granddaughters Mia Goulder and Elliot Goulder; his five siblings Barbara Jane Wood of Durham, ME; David Goulder (Marlene Salon) of Portland, OR; Scott Goulder of Hilton Head Island, SC; Michael Goulder (Carolyn Buck) of Montclair, NJ; and Joel Goulder of Hollis, NH; as well as his four nieces and nephews Benjamin Wood, Shelley Goulder, Thomas Goulder and Katherine Goulder.
Per Bob’s request, there will not be a memorial service. The family would like to thank the kind nurses and staff at Southern New Hampshire Hospital who cared for him in his final days. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire would be greatly appreciated.