Robert Jewett
Deceased February 23, 2007
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In Memory
Bob Jewett died of a brain tumor on February 23, 2007, at Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, ME. He was a member of Psi U, an English major, and a member of the swim team. His older brother, Bill, was also a graduate of Amherst, Class of ’58. Bob is remembered by us as being mature and level headed, a quality sorely lacking among his peers at that time.
After graduating from Amherst, Bob attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City, Fairfield Univ. (MA American Literature), and the Univ. of the South (Doctor in Ministry) and eventually became rector in charge at Grace Church in Nyack, NY. After this, he moved to Maine and most recently became priest in charge at St. Giles Church in Jefferson, ME. His wife, Gail, reported that they moved into an eighteenth century house that had eighteenth century amenities—such as an outhouse. Bob single handedly renovated it, doing all the carpentry, electrical work, insulation and plumbing so that it came up to twenty-first century code.
According to Gail, “He tended his goats, and they became the basis for many a sermon. He baked up a storm, and those creations were often the center of fabulous celebrations. He sawed and he hammered, making accurate display cabinets, bookcases, fireplace mantels and farm pens that would become a part of the lovely farm on which [they] lived. There was not much that Bob Jewett could not do. He sang, wrote stories and made beautiful blankets for each of his six granddaughters. He was considered by his family and friends to be truly a Renaissance man. Bob was a poet, a writer and teller of stories, an artist in the medium of words, whether on the amateur stage, in the pulpit, designing a sewing project or out milking his goats. Bob was so alive, so gifted, wondrously creative, funny, wise and compassionate. He worked all his life for peace and healing in the world, in the church, in the community and relationships between people . . . and he brought people together to listen to points of views different from their own. His legacy is peace and understanding to all people.” He is survived by his wife, Gail Montgomery; four married sons, Frank, Stephen, Joshua, and Shane; and six granddaughters.
—Arthur M. Hildreth ’60