Robert M. Doris, Jr. of Keene died May 15 at home. He was born November 20, 1930 in Warwick, Rhode Island, son of Vesta Emerson Newcomb Doris and Robert M. Doris, Sr, but grew up in the Worcester, MA area, where he graduated from South High School.
He proudly served the Marine Crops with the First Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in the 3rd Am Trac Bn.
He attended Clark University as an Ellis-Hubley Scholar and graduated cum laude and was elected to phi beta Kappa in his senior year. After receiving an M.A. in international politics from the fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Northwestern University appointed him as a Hearst Foundation Fellow in american History, and he spent two years there in residence towards a doctorate. he did not write his dissertation to receive the degree because he felt it a boring waste of time.
In many ways, his life consisted of a series of stints. Stints in the military, in schools, as a free-lance writer, as a teacher and writer of innovative social science curricula and as a developer of programs in outdoor education and field biology. He was also a civil rights activist and worked in both inner-city and rural communities as an organizer and program developer. In this capacity, he also worked with a small consulting company in Washington, D.C.
His final stint was in landscape design and maintenance. He started a small company with his wife and children, which enabled him to indulge in two of his favorite activities: skiing and time spent working and talking with his wife and children.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Marjorie Simonetta Doris, originally of Peterborough NH, his children Nicole Rader and her husband Richard of Idaho, Mark of North Carolina, Tamara Webber and her husband Glenn of Stoddard and Ursula Johannesson and her husband Mark of Peterborough, as well as his fave granddaughter Hannah Webber Brown of Manchester, his fave granddaughter Eliza Webber of Stoddard and his fave granddaughter Sr. Airman Abigail Johannesson Byers of North Charleston, SC, not to mention his fave grandsons Jeremy Cuddihy of Idaho, Petty Officer Jared Johannesson and Zachary Johannesson of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. He bonded to these children and grandchildren early in their lives and remained devoted to them as they grew. His wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren Grace, Wyatt and Ryleigh, were central to his life, grounded him, and gave meaning to his life. He will miss them.
A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Home, Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services of Keene.
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