BCAT News

A retired Burlington police officer and beloved family man passed away last week after a long battle with cancer.

Robert F. Healey, Jr. passed away at his home with his family by his side, on Friday, January 28, 2022, his obituary from Sullivan Funeral Home says. The beloved husband of April (Holley) he was 69 years old.

Bob was born in Medford but was raised and educated in Melrose and was a graduate of Melrose High School. After high school he went on to further his education by receiving his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Northeastern University in 1978. He began his career in law enforcement working for the Melrose Police Department in 1980.

“It was while walking his beat on the streets of Melrose that he would stop at the local Cumberland Farms store and become smitten with one of the workers, April Holley,” his obituary says. “They married in 1985 and bought their home in Burlington.”

Bob joined the Burlington Police Department in 1982 and retired in 2011 as their Information Technology Officer.

Bob was extremely well-versed and educated in all types of information systems technology and in 2005 he opened his own company “Heal Your PC Computer Services”. He provided onsite and remote computer repair for homes and small businesses in the greater Boston area. He sold the business in 2017.

According to his obituary he was also a loving family man.

“Bob was a supportive, involved, and proud dad to his three children: Carolyn, Brendan and Samantha,” it reads. “As a family they enjoyed summer vacations on Cape Cod, and took other memorable trips to Disney, Niagara Falls, Loon Mountain and Myrtle Beach. He was very involved in his children’s activities, attending many school concerts, ice skating shows, football games, and swim meets. Bob even coached Samantha in girls’ softball when she was young. Bob was so proud to see his children grow into adulthood and make lives of their own. They were always by their dad’s side supporting him during his nine-year battle with cancer.”

Bob and April were longtime members of St. Malachy and St. Margaret parishes in Burlington. For several years they were on the baptismal team at St. Malachy.
He also did not stop living his life on his own terms after his diagnosis.

“Bob was a fighter and was not going to let his battle with cancer define him,” his obituary reads. “He did everything in his power to beat the disease and would spend long hours researching the latest developing drugs and treatments. He was strong, optimistic, brave, and determined. His greatest concern was for his wife and soulmate, April. His struggle ended peacefully with his family by his side. Bob will be remembered as a kind and loving husband, father, brother and friend.”

Read his full obituary here.