Robert Foote Havens ’68
Robert Foote Havens ’68 died on December 15, 2024, in Oakland, California, after three and a half years of dementia-related declining health. Bob came to Dartmouth from Joplin, Missouri, where he was a leader in the debate team and active in the school magazine, drama, and tennis. A government major, Bob was active in the Dartmouth Christian Union, where he served as vice president and president. He was also a member of Casque & Gauntlet. Classmates remember him as a serious person with a great laugh and sense of humor. He wrote for our 40th reunion book, “After an unhappy year at Harvard Law School, I packed all my possessions into my ’65 Mustang and headed to San Francisco.” Bob completed coursework in American history for a master’s and Ph.D. but did not finish his dissertation. Bob spent his career tracking the spread of HIV/AIDS and its effect in the gay community in the Bay Area. He thought of himself as an epidemiologist (more of a sociologist than a medical professional). Bob retired from the University of California at San Francisco in 2007. Friends remember his wit and intellect, broad knowledge of history and world affairs, emotional generosity, and love of opera, good restaurants, and world travel. As he said, “It has been an exhilarating journey so far. Dartmouth certainly helped equip this small-town Missouri boy for his chosen, less-traveled road.” Bob is survived by sister Leslie and cousin Howard.
