Robert S. Hoyt ’57

Robert S. Hoyt ’57 passed away on October 26, 2023, from melanoma. Bob graduated from Edina (Minnesota) High School. He began at Dartmouth, transferred to the University of Minnesota to earn a B.A. in history, earned a master of theology from the University of Chicago in 1961, and completed the Luther seminary program in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a Lutheran pastor, he worked in urban congregations promoting racial equality. He was active in promoting community-sponsored housing for lower-income families in Baltimore. His family joined three other families suing the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) school board and after 10 years of litigation, won in all 60 areas of discrimination. He taught at four Lutheran seminaries and founded the National Parish Training Lab, where more than 1,400 pastors learned about long-range planning and civil engagement in the local parish. He was committed to new congregational development and the renewal of urban congregations, leading to the development of 450 congregations. He was chair of an interdenominational new church development committee to further study planting new congregations. After retirement he served five congregations in the Twin Cities as interim pastor. He was active in the Democratic party and local Golden Valley (Minnesota) commissions. In his 80s he protested against payday loans. He loved racing his MC sailboat on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis and taking his family camping across the country. He is survived by Patricia, his wife of 65 years; daughter Laura; son David; and grandchildren.