Robert Anton Joseph Olson, the only child of Tage Ingvar Olson and Angelamaria (De Gregorio) Olson of Braintree, Massachusetts, passed from this life to the next on April 27, 2025. He was 91 and living in Hernando, Florida at the time of his death.

Robert, often known as Tony, graduated from Braintree High School and married his high school love, Dolores Ann Marie Fasano. Tony attended Tufts University and in his third year entered Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. After graduation, Tony entered the U.S. Army as a dentist with the rank of second lieutenant. Tony’s military career spanned a good part of the globe. His first duty station was West Berlin, Germany, from 1958 to 1962, during the height of the Cold War and the Berlin Wall crisis. While in Germany he and his family traveled about Europe and even met Pope John XXIII at his summer home.

Upon his return to the States, Tony was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Later he attended school at Georgetown University and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where he graduated as an oral surgeon. He did his oral surgery residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Upon completion of his residency, his family remained in Hawaii, while Tony, now a lieutenant colonel, spent thirteen months in 1969-1970 in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. After Vietnam, Tony was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. There, he was promoted to colonel. Tony’s last military station was Fort Belvoir, Virgina, where he served as the commander of the installation’s dental clinics as well as two off-base clinics. He retired from the military in 1979 after 21 years and was  awarded the Legion of Merit for his service.

After retiring from the military, Tony began a new career as a Professor of Dentistry and Oral Surgery at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City. He eventually became Chairman of the Oral Surgery Department at the university and Chairman of Oral Surgery and Hospital Dentistry at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. While at the university, Tony and Dolores traveled to Indonesia where he was a consultant on oral surgery matters to the University of North Sumatra. He later went into private practice while he and Dolores were living in West Chester, Ohio. Tony retired when Dolores became ill. She predeceased him.

But Tony was more than his careers. He and Dolores raised eight children, and traveled the world – Sweden, Egypt, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Bali, England, and Italy, to name a few places. Tony loved to read and loved puzzles. He also loved horse racing. He even taught some of his children and grandchildren to read the racing form.

Tony was greatly loved and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his children: Robert Olson and his wife Noella of Hopkinton, New Hampshire; Stephen Olson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Gregory Olson and his wife Katherine of Syracuse, Indiana; Karl Olson of Des Moines, Iowa; Kathleen Olson of Hernando, Florida; Randall Olson and his wife Kristen of Hernando, Florida; Michael Olson and his partner Robert McFadden of Hernando, Florida, and Matthew Olson and his wife Patricia of Sierria Vista, Arizona. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He also leaves many Fasano family members in and from Braintree.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a visitation from 9:30-10:30am on Friday, May 9, 2025 at McMaster Funeral Home, 86 Franklin Street (Rt. 37), Braintree. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at Saint Francis of Assisi Church, 856 Washington Street, Braintree at 11:00am. Burial will follow at Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.

In lieu of flowers the family sincerely requests donations in Tony’s name be made to: Vitas Health Care - Citrus, PO Box 1330, Lecanto FL 34460.