On Friday July 30, Robert “Bob” Ellis Field passed away, surrounded by his family. For many years, he’d had to contend with myriad health challenges, and after struggling to maintain a consistent rhythm, his heart finally gave out.

    Bob was born in Boston, in 1948, the son of Ellis J. Field and Ann Field (Goodens). He spent his childhood in Weymouth, in a house on Squanto Road, the oldest of four children: Joan Taylor (North Carolina), Paul Field (Weymouth) and Ellis J. “Jay” Field (Franklin). Raised close to Wessagusset Beach, he spent his youth sailing and exploring with his father and brothers. He attended Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree and Boston State College in Boston, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. At Boston State, he also met Mary Kentley, the love of his life and wife of 48 years. Bob served in the Navy from 1970 to 1975, and he looked back on his time on the USS Inchon fondly, often reminiscing about his Mediterranean cruise.

    After completing his service, Bob began teaching at Boston College High School in Dorchester, where he taught for 39 years. Initially an English teacher, he soon switched to teaching art, which was a great conduit for his lifelong curiosity and creativity in drawing, photography and graphic art. Over his 4 decades of teaching, he kept meticulous binders of documentation of his student work, and he was very proud of his teaching. He also received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Bridgewater State University.

    Bob is the father of three children, Meghan Field (Surrey, England), Christopher Field (Milton and North Adams, MA) and Erin Quesada (Field) (Sharon, MA) and a grandfather (“Poppy”) to three grandchildren, Mateo Rodney Druenfield, Llewellyn Ellis Westfield and Aurora West Quesada. In the 80s and 90s, raising his children was his passion, and his patience and kindness were often on full display, whether he was driving his daughters to dance classes, coaching a little league game or organizing an extended camping trip in his beloved motorhome. Bob enjoyed vehicles of all shapes and sizes and was a longtime subscriber to “Automobile Quarterly”.  As his children became adults, he continued to support their endeavors in his inimitable way, rarely missing a live performance of Chris’ band or a chance to help out his daughters with anything they needed.

    In his later years, he enjoyed traveling with Mary and his family to England, Spain and Bermuda and spending time with his children and grandchildren. During this time, Mary was his rock and his caregiver. Her unflappable support and love for him carried him through his most difficult times.  

    Bob’s family is planning a celebration of his life in October.