Robert Shearer Ervin ’67

Robert Shearer Ervin ’67 of Dover, New Hampshire, died of pancreatic cancer at home on March 10, 2010. Robert came to college from the J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, Virginia, majored in English, was a member of Foley House and Delta Upsilon and was active with WDCR/WFRD and Outing Club. He earned an M.Div. from Harvard University in 1970 and a D.Min. from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1994. His first call was as the curate at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick, Massachusetts. Later he served as assistant rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia. Bob came to Dover in 1977 to serve as rector of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church. There he led a spiritual community and was nurtured and enriched by the people of the parish until his retirement in 2007. After his retirement from parish ministry he continued to serve as chaplain at both the Strafford County Correctional Facility and at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Bob encouraged community collaboration and development as a member of Dover Area Religious Leaders Association. He served on multiple boards, including the ethics board at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, the spiritual care advisory board at the Strafford County Department of Corrections, the board of Seacoast Hospice and the board of Strafford Guidance Mental Health Center and as vice president of the board for Tri-City Co-op. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Susan; daughters Caitlin, Maggie, Tory and Anne and her husband, Andrew; granddaughters Ramona and Isla; and brother Keith.