Obituary for Robert Hutchinson Towne Jr.
Robert Hutchinson Towne
7/10/1937 – 7/22/2021
Robert [Bob] Hutchinson Towne, age 84, passed away on July 22,2021 at Litchfield Woods Healthcare Center. Born July 10, 1937, son of the late Robert Henry Towne & Dorothy Peck Towne of Morris, CT.
Chronologically and alphabetically the last student to graduate James Morris High School, ‘Bob’ went on to attend UCONN for early studies, achieved a bachelor’s in arts for Mathematics & Teaching from Olivet College, with continuing education towards his Master’s Degree at Rutgers University.
[As a student and earlier years teacher of Mathematics who excelled in his field, Bob was offered government grants to continue his education at Fordham Univ. with an additional focus on the technical aspects of space travel. This, a political effort to aid the USA in attaining the amazing achievement of a moon landing before Russia was able to do so.]
Bob taught both Math & Physics in local high schools, including Washington, Thomaston, Litchfield & Torrington; the latter being where he was one of the first to endorse and carry out the beginnings of Computer Science in high school curriculum.
[‘BASIC’ computer programming became one of the many subjects Bob was so effective and applauded for schooling others in and which moved him up to a ‘contemporary & innovative’ educator status.]
For a period, Bob was honored with the position of President of the Math Teachers Association of CT and Chairman of the Math department at Torrington High School.
During his teaching years, Bob spent his summers dedicated to the family sweet corn business. In 1981, he shifted his entire professional focus to ‘Towne’s Farm’ – full time and added to his legacy by mentoring the many attentive young men, boys & girls on the ‘nitty gritty’, the mechanical & the customer service aspects of agricultural life. In 2019, the well-known Corn & Hay business was turned over to Dylan Hovey, a long-time and dedicated farming student, employee, and friend.
Bob was a HUGE fan of the UCONN Huskies, particularly the Women’s Basketball team, cheering them throughout many sporting seasons from the home he built and raised two daughters in on County Road.
Bob is survived by his daughters- Hilary Towne & Carrie Keppler; Jamie Keppler, son-in-law; grandchildren Wyatt Keppler, Hadley Towne & Madelaine Keppler; brothers, Alan & Page Towne; sister, Cheryl Towne, and former wife Virginia Fitch.
ALL are invited to join us for his ‘Celebration of Life’ gathering on Sunday, August 15th from 3:30 to 6:30pm at the Morris Town Beach Pavilion & Grounds, East Shore Road, Morris. Please come share stories, pictures, smiles & gratitude. No sad faces and no uncomfortable clothing/shoes—it’s what Bob Towne would want!
7/10/1937 – 7/22/2021
Robert [Bob] Hutchinson Towne, age 84, passed away on July 22,2021 at Litchfield Woods Healthcare Center. Born July 10, 1937, son of the late Robert Henry Towne & Dorothy Peck Towne of Morris, CT.
Chronologically and alphabetically the last student to graduate James Morris High School, ‘Bob’ went on to attend UCONN for early studies, achieved a bachelor’s in arts for Mathematics & Teaching from Olivet College, with continuing education towards his Master’s Degree at Rutgers University.
[As a student and earlier years teacher of Mathematics who excelled in his field, Bob was offered government grants to continue his education at Fordham Univ. with an additional focus on the technical aspects of space travel. This, a political effort to aid the USA in attaining the amazing achievement of a moon landing before Russia was able to do so.]
Bob taught both Math & Physics in local high schools, including Washington, Thomaston, Litchfield & Torrington; the latter being where he was one of the first to endorse and carry out the beginnings of Computer Science in high school curriculum.
[‘BASIC’ computer programming became one of the many subjects Bob was so effective and applauded for schooling others in and which moved him up to a ‘contemporary & innovative’ educator status.]
For a period, Bob was honored with the position of President of the Math Teachers Association of CT and Chairman of the Math department at Torrington High School.
During his teaching years, Bob spent his summers dedicated to the family sweet corn business. In 1981, he shifted his entire professional focus to ‘Towne’s Farm’ – full time and added to his legacy by mentoring the many attentive young men, boys & girls on the ‘nitty gritty’, the mechanical & the customer service aspects of agricultural life. In 2019, the well-known Corn & Hay business was turned over to Dylan Hovey, a long-time and dedicated farming student, employee, and friend.
Bob was a HUGE fan of the UCONN Huskies, particularly the Women’s Basketball team, cheering them throughout many sporting seasons from the home he built and raised two daughters in on County Road.
Bob is survived by his daughters- Hilary Towne & Carrie Keppler; Jamie Keppler, son-in-law; grandchildren Wyatt Keppler, Hadley Towne & Madelaine Keppler; brothers, Alan & Page Towne; sister, Cheryl Towne, and former wife Virginia Fitch.
ALL are invited to join us for his ‘Celebration of Life’ gathering on Sunday, August 15th from 3:30 to 6:30pm at the Morris Town Beach Pavilion & Grounds, East Shore Road, Morris. Please come share stories, pictures, smiles & gratitude. No sad faces and no uncomfortable clothing/shoes—it’s what Bob Towne would want!