He was born March 23, 1928, in Fitchburg, the son of the late Thornton K. and Susan (Lee) Ware. Attorney Ware received his Undergraduate Degree in 1950 from Harvard University and his Law Degree in 1954 from Boston University. He was the fourth generation in the law firm of Ware & Ware, the oldest law firm in Fitchburg, started in 1846 by his great grandfather, Thornton K. Ware, the first Justice of what became the Fitchburg District Court. Attorney Ware also was the owner of the North County Abstract Company in Fitchburg.
Attorney Ware provided 45 years of service to Fitchburg Savings Bank, first as a Corporator in 1958, then as Secretary, Clerk, and Trustee since 1965, taking over from his father. He chaired several board committees over the years and served five bank presidents. He continued his service as Honorary Trustee until his death.
Attorney Ware also served as Director of Fitchburg Gas & Electric Light Company from 1967 until 1998, and as Director of Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company from 1977 until 2001. In addition, he served the Walter E. Fernald State School as a Trustee from 1964 until 1980 and President from 1968 until 1978, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center as Trustee and President from 1969 until 1979.
His contributions to the town of Lunenburg included serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals from 1964 until 1975, and on the Route 13 Study Committee from 1990 until 1995.
Other organizations benefiting from Attorney Ware’s expertise include his service on the Boards of Songtime, Inc., (Daily Radio Show), as Director from 1970 until 1992, and Secretary from 1972 until 1981, the Fitchburg Visiting Nurses Association as Director from 1961 to 1981 and President from 1963 to 1965, the W.E. Putney Insurance Agency, Inc. as Director from 1963 until it was sold in 1968, the R.W. Bickford Insurance Agency, Inc. as their Director and Clerk from 1971 until it was sold in 1987, and the Fitchburg Art Museum as Trustee from 1972 until 1976.
He was a long-time, active member, Vice President and Chaplain of the Wachusett Camp of Gideons International, and was also active in the Fay Club, and the Fitchburg Rotary Club.
Attorney Ware also drew a great deal of satisfaction serving as a Trustee of Gordon College in Wenham from 1974 until 2001, and thereafter as Trustee Emeritus. He served as Clerk and Chairman of the Campus Development Committee from 1979 until 1999, during a period of rapid campus expansion including the building of new dormitories, classroom and office space, and a new chapel.
His legal associations included membership of the American, Massachusetts, North Worcester County and Worcester County Bar Associations, Massachusetts Conveyancers’ Association, New England Land Title Association, North Worcester County Board of Realtors-Associate Member, Christian Legal Society in Annandale, VA, and the Who’s Who in American Law since 1983.
Attorney Ware was honored in 2004 by President Kathleen M. O’Donnell of the Massachusetts Bar Association for fifty years of active law practice before the bar.
He leaves his wife of 55 years, Nance C. (Brooks) Ware; two sons, Deligate for the State of Virginia, Robert Lee Ware, Jr., and his wife Kathy of Powhatan, VA, and T. Kirkland Ware, III, and his wife Linda of Westford, MA; one daughter, Katrina W. Sweitzer and her husband Wayne of Lunenburg, MA; two brothers, Thornton K. Ware, Jr., of Westport, NY, and David Ware of Key Colony Beach, FL; one sister, Marion D. Jolliffe of Riverside, CA; nine grandchildren, Karen Chandler, Robert L. Ware, III, Thomas J. Ware, Jeb Stuart Ware, Lauren Beth Ware, Michael S. Ware, Nicholas J. Ware, Spencer W. Sweitzer, Shannon P. Sweitzer; and three great grandchildren, Michael, Madelyn, and Katelyn Chandler.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to Gideons International, P.O. Box 661, Fitchburg, Ma. 01420.
