Robert J. Fenderson

SACO - Robert J. Fenderson, 81, of 48 Elm St. died Friday at a Biddeford hospital after a brief illness.

He was born here, a son of Adney J. and Isabel Sawyer Fenderson, and graduated from Thornton Academy. He also graduated from Dartmouth College in 1924 and from Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Boston, in 1925.

Mr. Fenderson worked in Boston for several years in banking and auditing. He returned here in 1942, and worked in the payroll department of New England Shipbuilding Corp., South Portland.

After World War II, he joined his father's clothing and tailor business on Elm Street, retiring in 1963.

He later worked for the Biddeford Journal as a reporter.

He was an alderman in 1946 and 1961, city auditor in 1960, and city clerk in 1965.

He played cello under Arthur Fiedler in Boston. He was a member of the Portland Symphony Orchestra until 1970 and the Portland Community Orchestra, retiring in 1979.

Mr. Fenderson was secretary of the Saco Businessmen's Association from 1964 until 1978. He was active in American Red Cross activities.

He was a past president of Biddeford-Saco Council of Churches in 1957 and 1958.

He was a member of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Saco and Biddeford.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Sweetsir Lecture Committee and the first president of the Saco Adult Center in 1967.

Surviving are his wife, Margery E. Fenderson of Saco; a stepson, John R. Walker of Hampton, N.H.; a daughter, Mrs. William (Hope) Hobbs of Portland; a stepdaughter, Elaine M. Walker of Ithaca, N.Y.; a brother, Richard R. Fenderson of River Ridge, La.; eight grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.


Portland Press Herald