Robert E. Bachelder (Bob) of Reading, formerly of Medford, Totem Pole Orchestra conductor and former Associate Superintendent of Melrose Public Schools passed away peacefully on May 5th, surrounded by his loving family. He was ten days away from his 90th birthday.

Born in Lowell, Bob attended Malden Catholic High School where he played baseball and the drums. When WWII came along, Bob was eager to become a pilot. He enrolled in the Army Air Force where he served from 1943-1945.

In the 50's and 60's, Bob Bachelder's Totem Pole Orchestra accompanied Louis Armstrong, Julius La Rosa, Steve Lawrence, Tony Bennett, Jerry Vale, Charlie Parker, Stan Kenton, Les Paul and Mary Ford, the Four Lads, the Four Freshmen, Bill Haley and the Comets, Bill Hayes and others. Bob wrote all the arrangements for the orchestra

Bob got started making albums for a recording studio in Boston. Each Sunday, he and some friends worked tirelessly. "The owner of the Commodore Ballroom in Lowell heard about this and asked if I would play for him once in a while. I absolutely flatly refused," said Bob. At the urging of some friends though, Bob relented and got started on a Saturday night in one of the most crowded ballrooms in New England.

In 1953 Bob's hit single "TV Rhumba" made the Billboard Chart Top 40. It was an instrumental medley of several popular television theme songs of the day—Lucky Strike, Arthur Godfrey, Mr. Peepers, Ed Sullivan, Kate Smith, Dragnet, Pabst Beer and Gillette. The record found itself on the national charts below "Don't Take your Love From Me" by the Three Suns and right above "I've Got the World on a String" by Frank Sinatra. Then came the Totem Pole.

The Totem Pole was a premier American ballroom in Newton where big band music was at its height of popularity. Bob was the leader of the house band from 1955-1964. Three thousand people on average would pack the Totem Pole's dance floor every Friday and Saturday night. Variety Magazine once dubbed the Totem Pole, "The most beautiful dance hall in America."

When the Totem Pole burned down in 1965, Bob was well established in his career in education. He graduated from Lowell State in 1954 with a degree in elementary and music education. From there he earned his Masters degree in Counseling from Tufts University.

Bob was a junior high English teacher, a guidance counselor and in 1960 a school principal. In 1962, Bob became the first assistant superintendent in Melrose. He established a system-wide guidance program and organized the first public school learning disabilities program in Massachusetts. It was done so well that Bob was invited to join the state committee that developed Chapter 766 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which guaranteed the rights of all young people with special needs (age 3-22) to an educational program best suited to their needs.

In 1970, Bob was awarded a PhD in school administration from Boston University. He retired from the Melrose Public School system in 1988 as Associate Superintendent of Schools. From there, Bob worked as an adjunct professor at Salem State University teaching and supervising student teachers.

In addition to all of Bob's educational and musical accomplishments, he also served as treasurer and chairman of the Massachusetts Kidney Foundation.

Bob once said, "For whatever reasons-and there are myriad of reasons-I selected education, I really made the right decision. I've never regretted it. Friends of mine whom I jazzed around with in music when I was young went on to big things. Some landed in Hollywood, others in New York. And they kept cajoling me, 'Come on Bob, come with us' but for some reason, probably the lecturing of my dad when I was young, I'm too conservative. I didn't want to take the risk. Even though they're getting tremendous awards and creating music and they're making a buck, I feel blessed because I can do the vocation that always felt was right for me in education-and I can still be involved in music. For that, I'm very happy and grateful."

Bob spent his free time doing the things that he loved; spending time with his wife Elaine, playing tennis, hiking, golfing, listening to jazz, and of course playing piano. In the 80's Bob's jazz quartet played Friday and Saturday nights at the Bay Tower Room for over 10 years.

Bob was the beloved husband of Elaine Bachelder of Reading. Devoted father of Robert L. Bachelder and wife Marie of Medford, Katherine R. Bachelder and husband Frank Porteleki of Fairbanks, Alaska, Susan Pierce and husband Steve of Billerica and Craig Hall and wife Jodi of Reading. Cherished grandfather of Matthew Pierce, Robert Bachelder, Andrew Pierce, Michael Bachelder, Benjamin Porteleki, Jeffrey Pierce, David Bachelder, Annelise Bachelder, Craig Hall and Teresa Hall. Bob was predeceased by his parents Frank and Gertrude Bachelder, his sister Marion Scaldini and her husband John and his father-in-law Donald Pray.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Agnes Church, 186 Woburn St., Reading, Friday May 8th at 10:30 a.m. Friends and relatives will gather for a celebration of Bob's life. There are no calling hours. Those who wish, in lieu of flowers, gifts in Robert's memory may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements under the direction of the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home. For inf., directions and online guestbook visit www.johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com