Birth Born on June 04, 1928 in Worcester, Worcester Co., MA Death Died on December 17, 2012 in Concord, Middlesex Co., MA Marriages YOUNGREN, Betty S. Married on 1953 Children SLECHTA, Marc William: July 03, 1958 Notes Military Service: US Army Occupation: Biologist Death: Pneumonia Obituary: Bob Slechta, 84 A lifelong learner leaves the world For Bob Slechta, the devil was certainly in the details. Whether it was it his early research work at the Worcester Foundation of Experimental Biology, where he contributed to the development of the birth control pill, or documenting the graves in Bedford's Old Burial Ground on Springs Road, he grasped the big picture and was willing to take care of all the smaller pieces. Slechta, 84, died Monday morning in Concord's Emerson Hospital after contracting pneumonia. A memorial service for him will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. at First Parish, 75 the Great Road. On his retirement from the academic world of Boston University, he turned his attention to details of Bedford's history, reading up on it constantly, researching graves and properties and then sharing his knowledge with everyone else. "He was one of the people who led the charge to restore the Old Burial Ground," said William Moonan, who served for years with Slechta on the Historical District Commission. "He was always very thoughtful about the buildings and structures, and what they would look like. He always knew facts about the buildings that none of the rest of us did. He made us realize how old certain buildings were and how much of the part of the fabric they were to the town of Bedford." And it was all the little steps that led up to bigger things, such as documenting the people buried in the Old Burial Ground, working to get grant money, managing it and making sure the cemetery was restored. "He will be greatly missed, it's all the little things - they all added up," he said. Family life. While Marc Slechta is sure his father would be proud of his research work and his work on keeping on Bedford history alive, it was his father's love of his wife and family that shone the brightest. "He just loved his wife, they were just an amazing couple, and the love they shared was a model for us all," he said. "And I know he certainly loved me and his grandchildren." Carol Amick, who has been active in the Bedford Historical Society with Slechta, said he adored his wife Betty, and you could just tell by watching them how much they loved each other. "They're both so unassuming and devoted to each other," Amick said. History called. Marc Slechta said his father had a wonderful retirement researching, documenting and sharing Bedford history. He gave tours, particularly of the Old Burial Ground and the historic center of Bedford, to groups and each year to Bedford third-graders who learn more about their town. "He was always learning something new, he really enjoyed the historical part of our town," he said. Don Corey, who worked with him on a number of historical places and projects in Bedford, said Slechta helped him begin devoting time to historical research in Bedford. "He was probably one of my mentors, because he was involved in the Historical District Commission and the Bedford Historical Society before I was able to focus my time on historical stuff," Corey said. Corey and Slechta sometimes took care of details together, as when they cleaned out abandoned community gardens at the Job Lane House, getting rid of sticks and old plants so the meadow could be restored. People person. "I just loved him, I hugged him every time I saw him," said Sharon McDonald, who shared a love of Bedford history with Slechta, but also involvement with the Job Lane House. "I would call him and ask him and unload on him, and ask him what I was going to do, and he would say, 'it's going to be all right.'" McDonald said he got her through a lot of frustrations by his even-temperedness and his slowness to ignite. "He was just so understanding, a shy person but he was a people person," she said. Slechta was named Citizen of the Year by the town in 2010 for all his contributions to the town. "I remember he was so, so embarrassed when he was named Citizen of the Year," said Amick. "He was not the kind of person who would ever talk about himself. He will be so, so missed." Bedford Minuteman Bedford,MA December 20, 2012 Sources Newspaper Obituary: Bedford Minuteman Bedford,MA December 20, 2012