Robert Penniman Hubbard ’47
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OBERT PENNIMAN HUBBARD ’47, educator and longtime supporter of Loomis Chaffee, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2014, at his home in Walpole, N.H.
a longtime donor to the Annual Fund and member of the John Metcalf Taylor Society, became the lead donor for what eventually became the Hubbard Music Center. In 2004, Bob also established the Robert P. Hubbard ’47 Instructorship in Theater and the Hubbard Speakers Series. Each year, John Clark and later Timothy Struthers ’85, chief philanthropic officer, would send Bob an update on the speakers who had come to campus and how they were received by the students.
“He was a quintessential Yankee, generous to a fault and exceedingly modest. No fanfare permitted,” former director of development John Clark reflected with affection. A three-year student from Walpole, Bob lived in Batchelder and Palmer halls and was president of the Classical Music Club, a member of the Senior Library Committee, and a member of the stage crew for the productions of York Nativity and Macbeth. Bob also participated in first soccer, winter track, and first track. Following his graduation from Loomis, Bob attended Harvard and graduated from Kenyon College in 1953 with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. In 1974 he was awarded a master of arts degree in English from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. A teacher for most of his life, Bob believed deeply in the mission of educating young people. “It was clear that Bob really appreciated what a good teacher and a good school could do for students,” reflects Head of School Sheila Culbert.
After one such update, Bob wrote back: “How pleased I am with your response and that of the probing students to the speakers. All of you give me confidence in the future. As usual and as always, Loomis Chaffee is still the alert, active, stimulating and provocative school that I do so well remember from my years there. I arrived in my sophomore year asleep and was awakened.”
Robert P. Hubbard ’47
Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives
Magazine highlighting proposed changes to the school’s performing arts program During the course of his career, Bob taught intrigued him. As John Clark recalls, “The at Wilbraham Academy in Wilbraham, school’s relationship with Bob Hubbard Mass., and was a teacher of English and was elevated in the late ’90s when he chairman of the English departments wrote to express interest in the plans for a at Wassookeag School-Camp in Dexter, performing arts center. I responded to that Maine; the Bolles School in Jacksonville, letter, and thus began a five-year correFla.; and Palm Beach Academy in Palm spondence with the man. His letters were Beach, Fla. typewritten on ancient onion-skinned Of his time at Loomis, Bob had many great stationery … and were beautifully written, stories and a deep fondness that he readily as one would expect from a former English teacher.” shared with visitors from the school over the years, usually over lunch at his favorite In one of those letters, Bob wrote, “Obvirestaurant in Walpole, Burdicks. He arously, Loomis Chaffee is doing important rived on the Island as a sophomore in 1947, and rewarding work in many ways. But the same year his brother, Wentworth, perhaps what has most caught my eye — enrolled at Loomis as a junior. Admittedly and impressed me in recent years — has not a mathematics and science student, been your concerns, undertakings and acBob nurtured academic interests and pascomplishments with the arts and cultural sions in literature, theater, and music. activities.” Consequently, it was not surprising that With a generous gift of $5 million, Bob, an article in the Fall 1999 Loomis Chaffee
Bob was not shy about recommending Loomis Chaffee to friends and neighbors, and several enrolled over the years. The enrollment of one such neighbor, Justin Flessa-Laroche ’07, gave Bob a perfect excuse to venture back to the Island several times in the mid-2000s to watch lacrosse games. “Bob was an authentic Yankee gentleman whose quiet generosity made a real difference in the lives of others at Loomis Chaffee, Kenyon, the Harvard School of Design, his hometown of Walpole, N.H., as well as for individual students whose educational expenses he personally funded,” remembers former Head of School Russell H. Weigel. “The Hubbard Instructorship in Theater, the Hubbard Speakers Series, and Hubbard Hall will enhance the shared experience of students, faculty, and staff on the Island for generations to come.” Bob was predeceased by his brother, O. Wentworth Hubbard ’46. Bob’s survivors include his nephews and nieces, Jan Jefferis and her husband, Gary; Dale Hubbard and his wife, Colleen; Heidi Crotty and her husband, Patrick; and Jeffrey Hubbard and his wife, Patty; and many grandnephews and grandnieces. At his request, there was no funeral or memorial service. ©
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