WAYLAND: Robinson “Rob” Vohr Smith died peacefully at his residence on March 23, 2018.
He was born on June 25, 1926 in the city of Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire son of the late Frederick Smith and Grace (Vohr) Smith.
Rob graduated from the New Hampton School, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University. Services in the US Navy during World War II interrupted his college education, beginning in 1944. The G.I. Bill enabled him to complete his BA by 1947 (Class of 1946) and continue his studies in history at Columbia University where he completed his MA and ABD. Upon the birth of his first child, Rob returned to New Hampshire where he taught at Meredith High School and the New Hampton School, where he coached soccer and hockey in addition to his teaching responsibilities. In 1956, he joined the faculty of Nichols Junior College. In 1963, he joined the faculty of Bentley College (now University) moving with the school from its meager Boylston Street location to its expansive new campus in Waltham, where he served until his retirement in 1993.
He married Joan Weeks Trimble of Verona, NJ in 1949. Together they were active participants in the cultural life of the Boston area, offering courses on the arts and society for elder hostel programs and Bentley College students.
Rob Smith was well known for his magnificent singing voice. He was a long time member of the Masterworks Chorale of Lexington and the choir of the First Parish Unitarian Church in his home town of Wayland, where he resided from 1963 until his passing. Rob gave many memorable performances at the Vokes Theater in Wayland. He also performed in the New Hampshire Music Festival, the Worcester Colonial Opera, and Providence, RI players.
In addition to his musical and intellectual pursuits, Rob loved his athletics, playing and coaching hockey and tennis, enjoying recreational skiing and hiking in the hills and mountains and swimming in the streams, ponds and lakes of New Hampshire.
Rob Smith is survived by his sister, Norma Jean Moore of Franklin, NH; brother, Frederick Smith, Jr of New Hampton, NH; three children: Melissa Trimble Smith of Youngstown, OH, Rufus Vohr Smith of East Lyme, CT and Jared Robinson Smith of Londonderry, NH as well as four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and eight nieces and nephews.
All are invited to a Memorial Service on May 12, 2018 at 2:00 pm at the First Parish in Wayland, 50 Cochituate Road (corner Rte. 27/20), Wayland Center.
Rob was always a generous contributor to many causes, so gifts in his memory are encouraged to be given to a charity of your choice or one of his many, including:
Joan Trimble Smith Fine Arts Fund at Bentley University (Bentley.edu)
Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund (laurendunneastleymemorialfund.org)
First Parish in Wayland (www.uuwayland.org)
The Masterworks Chorale (www.masterworkschorale.org)
The New Hampton School (www.newhampton.org)
The Mayhew Program (www.mayhew.org)
CareGroup Parmenter (donate.mountauburnhospital.org/caregroupparmenter)
The American Cancer Society (cancer.org)
Parkinson’s Foundation (Parkinson.org)