Robert K. McIlrath ’76

Robert K. McIlrath ’76 died May 31 in Pepin, Wisconsin. Known at Dartmouth as “Chief,” he and his artist wife, Barbara, lived in a farmhouse not far from Minneapolis-St. Paul. For the past 10 years they devoted their time to the McIlrath Farm, offering workshops that brought instructors together with students from around the country to a welcoming community in a beautiful natural environment. Rob had recently retired from a position he had long held with Travelers Insurance. He was a dear friend of many members of the Dartmouth rugby club, which he served as president in 1976. Friend and teammate Rich Horan said Rob recently attended a rugby reunion in Hanover, where he and his former teammates shared several days and some very fond memories. Rob came to Dartmouth from Rochester, Minnesota, and graduated from Mayo (Minnesota) High School as valedictorian of his class. He was a member of the National Honor Society and won the National Scholar Athlete Award. He was the captain of the basketball and football teams and played on the varsity golf team.