Susan Melby Robb
April 9th, 1957 - June 25th, 2026
Susan Melby Robb, aged 69, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026, surrounded by her family and loved ones.
Susan was born on April 9, 1957, in Middlebury, VT, to Jean File Melby and Edward Carlos Melby Jr., DVM. At age four, her family moved to Baltimore, MD, where she spent much of her childhood. She attended Roland Park Country Day School in Baltimore followed by Ithaca High School after her family relocated to Ithaca, NY. She received a BS (1979) and MS (1981) from Cornell University, where she met the love of her life, Edward Jay Robb, DVM. They were married on August 15, 1981, and shared 44 years of unwavering partnership, raising four children while building community in Pulaski, NY; Unionville, PA; Mattawan, MI; Parkville, MO; and, most recently, Sherborn, MA. No matter where she lived, she treasured her summers in Cedar Beach, VT. As a child, when returning to Baltimore each fall, she’d carry home a mason jar of Vermont air.
Susan lived with joy, curiosity, and boundless compassion. She taught junior high school science in Central Square, NY and Unionville, PA. She was a master naturalist and nature educator, teaching children about the wonders of nature and protecting ecosystems for future generations. Susan loved being active: she filled her life with biking, volunteering, swimming, gardening, baking, hiking, travel, and deep friendships. No hill was too steep, no hike too long, and there was no such thing as bad weather. Above all else, Susan's greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her devoted husband, Edward Robb; her children, Katharine Ann (Rahul Ganatra), Sarah Rebecca (Alok Tewari), Hannah Laurel (Daniel Barbosa), and Ethan James Robb; her cherished grandchildren, Naomi and Nova Ganatra, Aditya and Baby Girl (due Sept. 2026) Tewari, and Arthur and Amelia Barbosa; and her brothers, Scott, Jeffrey, and Richard Melby.
Susan was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2019. Although myeloma is an incurable cancer, advances in medical research gave her precious time with her loved ones. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a dedicated myeloma research fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/SusanMelbyRobb.