Robet Colby | hinckley-prep-school

Robert C. Colby

Boothbay Harbor, ME – Robert C. Colby, retired Headmaster of The Hinckley School, Hinckley, ME, passed away on April 22, 2009. His obituary, written by his son Mark, a Hinckley School graduate is as follows:

Robert Colby passed away unexpectedly early Wednesday morning on April 22, 2009. His wife Margaret “Peg” Colby, who died on November 28, 2008, predeceased him. Robert, better known as Bob, had a rich and productive life. He was born in Mount Vernon, New York on December 18, 1923 to the proud parents of William and Margaret Colby. His parents had come to the Cozy Harbor House in 1910 on a church retreat and eventually bought the property, now known as the Colby House, on David’s Island in the 1920's. From the beginning, life on David’s Island was a wonderful and magical time for young Bob, his parents, brother Phil, and eventually for his wife Peg, children Brian, Mark, Kevin, Sean and now his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Although Bob’s father, William Colby, did not follow in his father’s footsteps, that is to make a living on the sea, he nevertheless sailed aboard his father’s sailing ships when the whole Captain Isaac Colby’s family lived on board for some of his three-year voyages. Captain Isaac sailed square-rigged merchant vessels doing the China Sea Trade and would be gone from his home in Newburyport, Massachusetts for years at a time. Bob’s father made six “Round the Horn” voyages and Bob’s grandfather many more than that. Bob’s Aunt Bett was born on board the ship “Elizabeth Cushing” while crossing the China Sea. One can imagine that with that family history Bob would take to the sea as he did

Bob’s love of the sea and sailing was developed early on when his parents bought him a new Ob Brewer skiff when he was twelve years old. He often would jury rig a sail using an old sheet or blanket secured to an oar that was placed in the small hole in the forward thwart of his skiff ”Ranger”. “ Pup” was his first real sailboat of 12' and one he sailed along the shores and islands of the Sheepscot River.” Lyra” and then “Irish Mist” were to follow in later years and were well known to Cozy Harbor sailors and to members of the Southport Yacht Club. In the early 1950's Bob became Commodore of the Yacht Club and was instrumental in forming the junior sailing program at SYC along with Frank Clifford and Wright Britton. In his later years he was active in the Warenock Power Squadron and served as Commodore of that organization as well.

Bob joined the Navy in May of 1942 while still a senior at North Quincy High School in Massachusetts. He attended the Navy Signalman School and served on troop transport ships and tankers during WWII in the European, Atlantic, and Pacific theaters. He often would recall that he spent his twenty-first birthday doing Shore Patrol duty in Cherbourg, France. His veteran history is well documented in Sarah Sherman McGrail’s book “Southport - The War Years. An Island Remembers”.

After the war, he married his sweetheart Margaret “ Peg” Dawson on June 29, 1946. He attended Mohawk College in Utica, New York and the University of Maine in Orono, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. He taught school at the Skowhegan Elementary School; was Head Teacher at Trevett Grammar School in Boothbay; Guidance Director and Teacher at Conant High School in Jaffrey, New Hampshire; and Teacher, Coach, and Administrator at the Good Will/Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine for twenty-one years. While at Hinckley he coached many of the team sports and eventually became Director of Athletics. He moved up from there to Director of Studies, Assistant Headmaster, and then Headmaster for five of the twenty-one years at Hinckley.

Bob always spent time at his beloved summer home on David’s Island. Bob and Peg, in 1977 moved permanently to Southport where he became active in town affairs serving on the School Committee as Chairman, as a Library Trustee, Historical Museum Trustee, Harbor Committee Member, Planning Board of Appeals Member, and served as Moderator of Southport town meetings for over twenty years.

In 2005 Bob and Peg moved to their home on Eastern Avenue in Boothbay Harbor where easy and closer access to the needs of senior people were met. Son Brian predeceased his parents in 2005. Surviving family is Mark of Boothbay Harbor; Kevin and Connie of Southport; and Sean and Karen of Boothbay Harbor. Surviving grandchildren include Mrs. Heather Simmons of Bath, Mrs. Merilee Solie of Wyoming, children of Brian; Alden, Elliott, and Adaline, children of Mark; Wyatt, child of Kevin and Connie; and Caleb and Mackenzie, children of Sean and Karen. Eleven great grandchildren survive. Great grandchild Jeremiah Simmons predeceased his great grandparents in 2005. Over thirty nieces and nephews from all over the country survive as well.

A Celebration of Life was held for both Bob and Peg on David’s Island in June of 2009. Contributions in Bob’s memory can be made to the Southport Historical Society, the Southport Methodist Church or to an organization of your choice."