Robert W. Cary

Profile Updated: June 22, 2023
Where do you live? Andover, MA USA
Spouse/Partner? Since what year? Ann Cope
Homepage: Facebook: Robert W Cary
Occupation, or former occupation (when did you retire?): manufacturing engineer - Military/Defense, retired after 14 years with Raytheon on April 1st 2022
Children (Year born), # of grandchildren, if any: Kathryn Jane Cary, 31 yrs young as of 2023. She graduated from the U of U with her bachelors in nursing More…May 2nd of 2014. She passed her boards AND was offered the position at the hospital she wanted! She has since earned her Doctorate in Nurse Practitioner and created an outrageous life for herself!
Places you've lived since high school, when?

York Maine 2002 to 2004, Andover Massachusetts 2007 to 2022, Concord New Hampshire 2022 to present

What have you been up to since High School?

I was very sad to miss the 40-year reunion. On July 19th I fractured the 5th metatarsal on the right foot and dislocated/broke two bones in the left ankle. The right foot in a soft boot and cast on the left leg makes it difficult and tiring to travel so soon after the accident. PLEASE keep me on the 50 year reunion list and I WILL see you all next time around. Check out Rob Cary on Facebook. You'll see pics of kayaking, hiking, and biking New England!

My 3 most treasured memories from the Mighty Ram days are (1) working SO hard during rehearsals for the broadway plays. Hello Dolly is challenging for the 1st trumpet...loved every minute of it! (2) The jazz band participated in the Reno Jazz Festival every year. What a great experience. (3) Dating Debby VonKhrum. To this day we are very close and see each other at least once a year when I come to SLC to see my daughter Katie and ski with dear friends.

What do you like to do in your spare time? What lights you up?

Now that I'm retired as of April 2022, I have time for rehearsals and performances in 4 jazz bands! Ann is an accomplished pianist, we play in 2 bands together. We also spend time hiking, cycling, and traveling in our 26 foot travel trailer seeing the countryside and spending time with our kids.

What did you always want to do (or be) that you haven't done yet?

I would love to dive the Great Barrier Reef (Scuba diving is peaceful), I would like to go back to New Zealand to spend time on the North island, I would LOVE to perform on stage with trumpet players Winton Marsalis and James Morrison,

High School Story/Reflections/Memories:

I worked 11 years as an electronic technician in Salt Lake for Evans and Sutherland building, installing, and troubleshooting pilot training flight simulators for military jets like the F-15 Eagle, F-18 Hornet, and commercial aircraft including the big jumbo jets. My favorite project was the shuttle pilot trainer for NASA. I spent 3 months in Houston at Johnson Space Center installing our simulator that trained the shuttle pilots how to dock with the orbiting Space Station.

I worked as a field engineer in New Hampshire a few years before coming back to SLC to take care of dad. After he passed, I moved back to Massachusetts to work for Raytheon Defense Systems, which is where I am currently employed.

I have been teaching fitness classes off & on since age 26. I am currently teaching core strength, yoga, and indoor cycling/spinning every week...keeps me healthy! Of course Ann & I are away every weekend rain or shine, winter or summer, hiking, kayaking, or biking around the New England states!

I went from Highland High right to Westminster College for jazz performance. One of the highlights was playing at Donta's Jazz club in Hollywood. After two years I transferred to the U of U to the music department while considering enrolling in the electrical engineering program. There is nothing quite like standing on the 50 yard line at halftime soloing my guts out to a crowd of 30,000 football fans.

I quit playing the trumpet after college and got serious about a career and earning an income. 20 years passed with life experiences like being laid off (several times!), the birth of my beautiful daughter Katie, divorce, etc. and I suddenly found myself somehow hollow. I "came back" to playing the trumpet in 2003 and now play jazz better than ever before!

UPDATE November 2016:
I just read Marc James update regarding his retirement, having more time to restore Ford Mustangs, be with kids & grand kids, etc. and reread his original comments about all the good times in high school playing jazz together. Happy retirement my friend. Enjoy the next phase of this gift called life!

UPDATE June 2022: After 14 years as a senior mfg engineer at Raytheon, I retired in April 2022. I have time now to play in 4 jazz bands AND create a garden paradise in our backyard where we live now in Concord NH. Ann and I spend a good amount of time hiking, cycling, and kayaking all over new England. Maine is beautiful!

Posted: Jun 22, 2023 at 8:16 AM