Robert Rivers ’64

Robert Rivers, Burlington, VT, died October 28, 2023, at the McClure Miller Respite House.

Born in Burlington, Bob remained a devoted member of the community all his life. As a third-generation graduate of Saint Michael’s – his late father was Robert Rivers, Sr. ’37 and his grandfather was Joseph Rivers (among the College’s earliest students) — Bob joined the baseball team and had a career ERA of 14.30 — not the kind of pitching stats that earned him an abundance of family pride, but he more than made up for it as he dedicated his career to education, serving as an English teacher in the Burlington school system. His passion for teaching and connecting with students who needed extra support left a lasting impact on countless young people, and his commitment to their growth was unwavering.

Outside the classroom, Bob was a devoted family man who coached his children in South Burlington athletic programs for many years and supported their love of music and the arts. He was an avid runner and tennis player, instilling a love for active lifestyles in his children and grandchildren. Bob loved literature and great music of all styles, from Bach to Tuba Skinny and everything in between. As a young man, he sang bass on Mills Brothers tunes with his brothers and father and was always in the audience for performances by his two sons many years later.

Bob also served as president of the Appletree South Association for decades, demonstrating his dedication to the well-being of his community. He was a selfless individual; Bob’s life was a testament to his commitment to others.
Bob was an inspiration and role model to his children and he taught his grandchildren chess and enjoyed playing Store, Bank Robber, Toxic Dump and Christmas Bingo with them.

Bob’s love of the inappropriate and the irreverent always brought great laughter and memories for his family young and old. Bob’s warm heart, infectious laugh and sense of humor extended beyond his immediate family to his many nieces, nephews, in-laws and a wide circle of friends. His sense of humor had an extraordinary ability to bring people together.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Judy, three brothers including Thomas Rivers ’66, two sisters, and extended family including niece Katherine “Kit” Rivers ’14.