Obituary of Urban Henry Ludwig Bobseine

Urban Bobseine, a long-time resident of Duxbury, MA, died quietly on May 26, 2011. His wife of 65 years, Anne Jouett Bobseine, predeceased him a year earlier. Urban was born in 1919 on a farm in North Otto, New York. Even at an early age, he and his two brothers, Howard and Elmer, helped their mother Clara work the farm by plowing the fields, sowing and harvesting, as well as milking the cows, cleaning the stables and feeding the animals. As the economics of farming became more difficult, Clara found additional work at a factory in Cattaraugus for $12 a week. For a while she tended to both the farm and her job at the factory, hitching her horses to the wagon at 4:30 a.m. to make the 5 and ½ mile commute to the factory in Cattaraugus. In 1926 Clara decided that Cattaraugus offered better prospects, as well as a shorter commute, and she moved herself and her three sons to the town of 1,000 people. Though the family didn’t have much money, they were not poor. Clara had a zeal for life and was disciplined, determined and hardworking; she believed in the prospects for her sons and in The American Dream. She passed these traits on to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many became leaders in the military, business, education, health care and law enforcement. They attended such schools as SUNY, Syracuse University, University of South Carolina, University of New Hampshire, WPI, Brown, Dartmouth and Harvard. Following his graduation from Cattaraugus, NY High School in 1937, Urban worked on ore boats on the Great Lakes, in factories, on farms, and with the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Prior to the U.S. entry into WWII, Urban joined the United States Marine Corps where he became an Xpert Rifleman and later a rifle instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina. Most of his fellow Marines were shipped off to the Pacific and many did not return. After two years in the USMC, Urban was recruited to become an officer and a pilot in the United States Navy. In the USN he flew anti-submarine missions in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. After the war he remained in the U.S. Navy Reserves for 25 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. It was during the war that Urban met and married his wife, Anne Jouett, a wave in the U.S. Navy. After the war they spent their honeymoon hitchhiking across the country. They both attended and graduated from Syracuse University under the GI Bill. Urban also did graduate work at New York University. He first worked at American Express, but most of his career was spent in the steel industry working in sales for US Steel and Eastern Stainless Steel. A passionate outdoorsman, Urban took full advantage of New England’s seasonal offerings: skiing in the winter until the age of 78; fly fishing and sailing in the spring and summer; and hiking and hunting in the fall. Though an expert shot, he also was an avid environmentalist who when hunting was content to “miss.” Urban’s retirement years were spent traveling with his wife, sailing, skiing and enjoying his four children and many grandchildren. He leaves his son Mark Bobseine of Duxbury; and three daughters, Ellen Jones of Vero Beach, Florida, Kathie Khederian of Plymouth, Massachusetts and Terry Bobseine of Gilford, New Hampshire. He also leaves eight grandchildren. Contributions in his memory may be made to Syracuse University, Military Officers Association Of America (MOAA) Scholarship Fund, and The Society For The Protection of NH Forests. A private, outdoor memorial service will be held this fall.