Rev. Robert Lawthers

The Reverend Robert Lawthers, 88, of Lake Clear, New York, died peacefully at home on June 23, 2011 surrounded by his family.

Fr. Bob was born on December 18, 1922 in Cambridge, MA, the eldest son of Virginia Chamberlain and Robert J. Lawthers. After two years at Harvard University he enlisted and served as a First Lieutenant in World War II. He was stationed with the occupation forces in Japan before returning to college. He graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Science and went on to earn a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Chicago. After five years with the United States Geological Service he found his true calling as an Episcopal priest. In 1959, he graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Over the course of his career, he had parishes in Hughesville and Silver Spring, Maryland, Newport, New Hampshire, Waterloo and Greene, New York. He served as priest in charge at St. John’s in the Wilderness, Paul Smith’s, New York from 1997 - 2006. He also held several long-term interim positions in Elmira, Penn Yan, Wolcott, and Elizabethtown New York. His final ministry was as chaplain with High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care from 2002-2010.

Community service was an integral part of his life. He was chaplain of the Hughesville, Maryland Volunteer Fire Department, and volunteer for the Silver Springs, Maryland and Newport, New Hampshire fire departments. He was an active Rotarian, having served as president in Newport, New Hampshire. Fr. Bob was a volunteer school-group leader at the Visitor Interpretive Center, Paul Smith’s and the first conductor on the north-end of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad running between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid.

Fr. Bob was passionate about the outdoors: an avid hiker, camper, naturalist, and rock collector. He completed the New Hampshire 4000-footers with his children in 1969. Fr. Bob was also a natural musician with a strong tenor voice, a talent he used in his ministry. Chanting the Episcopal liturgy gave him great pleasure.

Since childhood, Fr. Bob had been fascinated with steam locomotives and all things railroad. In 1971 he began constructing from raw metal a fully-functioning replica of a steam locomotive with all parts exactly to scale (a hobby known as Live Steam). The engine and tender were completed 12 years later. Fr. Bob built a track for the locomotive in his front yard in Greene, New York, complete with a wooden trestle. He would fire up the engine for grandchildren and church events and take children for rides around the yard.

A true renaissance man, Fr. Bob is survived by his wife Mary Lawthers, his first wife Nancy Lawthers of Denver, Colorado, as well as seven children and step-children: Ann Lawthers and John Higgins of Milton, MA, Connie Lawthers and the Rev. Mac Collins of San Diego, CA, Marty Lawthers and Ed Mazdzer, of Saranac Lake, NY, and Peter Lawthers of San Francisco, CA, Deb and Matt Lewis of Waterloo, NY, Cindy and Joe Felice of Waterloo, NY, and Beth and John Jones of Waterloo, NY. There are 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Meg, Claire, Chris, Sara, Kate, Ted, Joshua, Nathan, Michael, Amanda, Katlyn, Madeline, Abigail. Fr. Bob is also survived by his brothers Michael and David Lawthers and his half-sisters Jane Hoffman and Anne Lawthers.

Calling hours and celebration of Fr. Bob’s life will be Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 6 pm to 8 pm in the Parish Hall of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Saranac Lake. Refreshments will be served. The funeral will be held Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Burial at St. John’s in the Wilderness, Paul Smith’s, will be private.

In lieu of flowers, The Reverend Lawthers wished donations be made to either High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care or St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, in care of Fortune-Keough, Saranac Lake. Please sign the online guestbook at http://www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com/.

He went First Class.