by Carol Hodes for the SBOANJ
MANALAPAN,
NJ – October 2, 2014 – Robert M. Baggitt Sr. of Allentown, NJ, a longtime horse
owner and a member of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association Board
of Directors since 1985, passed away on Wednesday, October 1, 2014. He
was 81.
Baggitt
was on the owner, finance, pension and special events committees of the
SBOANJ. For many years, he co-chaired the SBOANJ’s golf outing, which
each year raised money for the horsemen’s benevolent fund.
It
was through his wife of 54 years, Sandra, and her father, driver-trainer Larry
Powers, that he was introduced to harness racing. His son, Bob Jr. and
nephew, Jack Baggitt Jr. are both horsemen.
Baggitt
joined the Navy and served on a destroyer from 1951 to 1956 and worked for New
Jersey Bell Telephone for 37 years, starting as a lineman and retiring as a
repair supervisor in 1991. For many years he was a school bus driver in
Upper Freehold Township while his wife oversaw their 12-acre farm in Allentown,
NJ, which is called O-No Acres.
Funeral Home Obituary:
Robert
Mount Baggitt, Sr., 81 of Upper Freehold Township died Wednesday, October 1,
2014 at Jersey Shore University Hospital, Neptune Township. He was born
in Freehold and was a lifelong resident of the area.
He
served in the U.S. Navy of the Korean War serving from 1950 to 1956.
He
was a line foreman for the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, Freehold where he
was employed for 36 years before his retirement in 1991. After his
retirement he was a school bus driver for the Allentown School System.
He
was a member of American Legion Post No. 54, Freehold, the Tin Can Sailor
Association, a member of Colts Neck Fire Company No. 1 from 1960 to 1980, and a
founding member of the Colts Neck First Aid Squad. He was a member of the first
group of officers to serve in Colts Neck Township Police Department, a Colts
Neck Little League coach, and Boy Scout Leader in Colts Neck.
He
was a 34 year member and director of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners
Association and a member of the U.S. Trotting Association.
He
was predeceased by his parents, William C. and Angela Mount Baggitt; a sister,
Ann Baggitt, his brothers, Jack Baggitt and wife Joanne and William Baggitt;
and brother-in-law, Arthur Smock.
Surviving
are his wife, Sandra Powers Baggitt; his children, Robert M. Baggitt, Jr. and
his wife Christine, Ellen Cunningham and her husband Michael, Larry Baggitt and
wife Tina, Timothy Baggitt and wife Kelly, Nancy and husband Robert Fitts; two
sisters Rosemary Smock and June Higgins and her husband Larry; his
grandchildren, Tyler Baggitt, Erica McDonald, Logan and Connor Cunningham,
Alessandra, Lauren, Christina and Riley Baggitt; and Bob J. and Jesse
Fitts; great grandchildren Ella McDonald and Rylee Fitts; and many nieces and
nephews.
Visiting
will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Sunday
from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be
celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold on Monday at 10:00 a.m.
followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery. IN lieu of flowers,
memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude
Place, Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated.
