Arthur Charles Watterson Jr. | News, Sports, Jobs

Arthur Charles Watterson Jr. passed away peacefully on September 2, 2021. Arthur was born in Elwood City, Pennsylvania on April 19, 1938 and spent his formative years in the Pittsburgh suburbs. He attended Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, then moved to New England to attend Brown University, earning his doctorate in chemistry. After completing his postdoctoral work at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he settled in Nashua, NH, where he lived for more than 50 years.

Arthur was a true Renaissance man.

First, he was a scientist. He was a professor of chemistry at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where he also served as department chair and acting dean of the college of arts and sciences. He held multiple patents and published numerous papers detailing his study of polymers. In addition to his original research, Arthur enjoyed the collaborative process of working with his fellow scientists around the world.

He was a lover of the arts – a fan of classical music, the ballet, and visits to the the Museum of Fine Arts. He taught himself how to play guitar and dabbled with playing the piano. Arthur had a rich tenor voice – singing with the choir at Nashua’s First Congregational Church for decades. And he was a gifted photographer, quietly capturing both natural still lifes and intimate moments at family gatherings.

Arthur was a student of the Boston sports scene. He had a particular affinity for the Boston Celtics and was a long-time season ticket holder of the UMass Lowell River Hawks’ hockey team. While he was born a Steelers fan, he became a faithful Patriots convert, passing many fall Sunday afternoons cheering on the team with his sons.

He loved mystery novels and crossword puzzles. He enjoyed pumpkin pie for breakfast and ice cream at any time.

But mostly, Arthur was a gentle soul. He had a quiet voice and an easy smile. He was an astute listener and loved spending time with family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Arthur is survived by his three sons and their spouses; Terence and Beth Watterson of Hudson, NH; Scott and Lissa Watterson of Cumming, GA; and Todd Watterson and Tamara Fucile of Washington, DC, and his eight grandchildren – Abby and Jodi; Grace, Haley and Natalie; and Caroline, Bridget and Ryan. Arthur is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Karin Watterson of Columbia, MD; his sister-in-law, Sr. [Margaret] Ellen Burke and his nieces Marianne, Eileen and Jean McCaffery. Arthur joins his wife of almost fifty years, Claire Watterson, his mother and father, Arthur and Grace Watterson, and his nephew, Edward McCaffery, in the next life.

SERVICES: A memorial service will be held graveside at Edgewood Cemetery, 107 Amherst St. in Nashua, on Monday, September 13th at 11 o’clock. Family and friends planning to join are asked to wear a mask. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages those wishing to remember Arthur to take a loved one out for an ice cream and know that he is joining you in spirit. Contributions can also be made to the Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity chapter. The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com, (603-883-3401) “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER.”