Tributes

Robert Gray Stetson, 92, passed away Dec. 31st, 2021, with his daughter Hilary near his side. He was born July 13th, 1929 to Edith (Reid) and Henry Stetson in Cambridge, MA. Robert was the eldest of three siblings, Thomas Stetson (middle) and Polly Hankins (youngest). The family moved to Belmont, MA where he attended the Belmont Hill School, graduating in 1947. He attended Yale University, graduating in 1953, from which he took a 2-year leave to serve in the National Guard during the Korean War. In 1960, he received a law degree from Boston University School of Law and married Joanna Leigh Lloyd. They moved to Concord, MA and had three children: Timothy, Wendy, and Hilary. Later they divorced, and Robert moved to Providence, RI where he worked for the law firm of Edwards & Angell, LLP drafting wills and trusts. Growing up, Robert spent his summers in Falmouth, MA. He enjoyed sailing and could often be found aboard a Herreshoff in Buzzard’s Bay. He also enjoyed biking and would take his kids on their “no speed” bikes on an 11-mile loop on Saturdays, stopping at Bates ice cream stand at the halfway point. Then in the winter, they would all drive over to King Ridge Ski Area in Sutton, NH to ski. Throughout the school year, over the course of many years, he also attended his children’s sports events where he would take photos and quietly cheer them on. In addition to being active outdoors, Robert also loved the Arts and joined a contra dancing group for a time. He enjoyed attending Gilbert and Sullivan musicals and was a huge fan of watching classic movies, of which he amassed a sizable collection. Actor Sir Alec Guinness was right up there as one of his favorites! Robert was an avid reader and had a large library, which he had to downsize significantly when he moved to Oregon. He devotedly read the daily newspaper his entire life and always made sure to read the cartoons (an activity he started as a child). He met the daily crossword puzzle with great enthusiasm and his trusty dictionary- rarely leaving any boxes blank. Robert avoided anything to do with the TV during his lifetime, saying with a grin that it “dumbed him down”. His favorite topic was history, particularly the Civil War and WWII eras—and he travelled to various battle sights with his son. Maps were one of his great passions, and he always had an atlas (or two!) on hand. Robert was also a careful driver, loved the stick shift models, and generally bought Fords (Mustang, Grenada) -- however his last car was a small, fuel efficient 1990’s Honda, which he referred to as a “beer can on wheels.” After living in New England his whole life, Robert moved to Ashland, OR in the Spring of 2011 to live near his youngest daughter, Hilary. There he settled into Mountain Meadows, a 55+ independent living community, and made several dear friends whom he saw daily at stretch class. Robert eventually began to tell jokes in class, encouraged by his friends, and amassed many jokes books to draw from. He also enjoyed attending concerts at Mountain Meadows and working out in the fitness center, with the highlight of the week being the casual, social Sunday brunch gathering. Outings included visiting nearby Emigrant Lake, Lithia Park (where he attended many summer city band concerts) and the occasional drive to the top of Mt. Ashland. For his 90th birthday party his 2 grandchildren, Timmy and Zea Palthey, flew out from Vermont to share in a joyful, memorable celebration. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Robert Stetson, please send it to one of the two charities that he supported: Paralyzed Veterans of America at www.PVA.org, and Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Grants Pass, OR at www.wildlifeimages.org

Tributes

Robert Gray Stetson

July 13, 1929 - December 31, 2021