Today is the 85th Anniversary of His Birth

OFFICIAL AND PUBLISHED OBITUARY


 Charles Robert (Bob) Lewis of Sarasota, formerly of Hudson, NY, died Wednesday, December1, 2021 at the age of 84. He was born December 7, 1936 to Robert T. and Emabel (Pemberton) Lewis at Independence, MO. He graduated from the University of Colorado with a BS in Accounting in 1958 and from Nashotah House Seminary with a MDiv in 1965. After ordination in the Episcopal Church, he served parishes in Wisconsin and Missouri before going to the historic Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, NY in 1973. He served as Rector there until retiring in 1999. He moved to Sarasota FL in 2003 with Keith Hedrick, his life-long partner of 37 years, who predeceased him.

Survivors include two sisters, two half-brothers, nieces, and nephews.

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My words

Bob was a treasured member of the Sarasota based group of ageing gay men, called "Ben's Bar".  Bob had a powerful aversion to being photographed; hence there is no photo' of him.

He was a man of few words, never using two words if one would do.

Zion and I  were privileged to visit him many time in the recent years when he lived at Discovery Village at Sarasota Bay.  My final visit was just four days before his death.

His death six days before his birthday was not unexpected. We will miss him, but none of us is in deep grief.

My sentiments are expressed in the first line of a hymn by Charles Wesley  (which is never sung these days): "Rejoice for our brother  departed, our loss is his excellent gain"



 Not too much of Bob to see in this pic.  Here he is giving Zion a treat.



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