Henry Martyn Robert III

Henry Martyn Robert III, 98, passed away January 6, 2019 at his home in Annapolis, Md. Born June 22nd, 1920, Mr. Robert was the son of Henry M. Robert, Jr., a USNA Mathematics professor and Sarah Corbin Robert, a teacher and President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution. He was the grandson of Army General Henry M. Robert, who had served as the head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was the author of Robert’s Rules of Order. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised remains today as the foremost parliamentary authority in the U.S. and, since its publication in 1876, has been revised eleven times with the 12th edition scheduled for publication in 2020. As the senior member of the authorship team, Mr. Robert oversaw the last six revisions; prior to that he collaborated with his mother, Sarah Robert on previous editions. He is also a co-author of the shorter introductory book, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief.

Henry was an esteemed member of the National Association of Parliamentarians and in 2015 was named an Honorary President. Far too numerous to mention, Mr. Robert has received scores of awards and accolades for his work as a Professional Parliamentarian since 1983. During his long career, he served for many years as the Parliamentarian for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus. His many contributions in regards to parliamentary procedure will long be remembered.

A 1941 graduate of St. John’s College in Annapolis, he remained active in the alumni association and always was a lifelong adherent and promoter of liberal arts education. Mr. Robert was also affiliated with the nearby U.S. Naval Academy, annually presenting the Professor Henry M. Robert, Jr. Prize in Mathematics.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy, working as a physicist for the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal for his efforts. After the war, he studied physics at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, earning a M.S. degree in 1951. A stunning accomplishment, since his coursework was in French! He then went on to further study at the University of Notre Dame. Even throughout his later years he continued to keep abreast of advances in the field by continuing to read peer-reviewed scientific journals.

A devout convert to Catholicism during his undergraduate years, Henry served on the staff of St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis and became a Redemptorist Oblate. He resided at the rectory for many years, carrying out a number of diverse duties, such as sacristan and lector, even faithfully serving as crossing guard for the parish school. He is remembered lovingly by many for his diligent and responsible service no matter the task.

He remained actively involved in the Knights of Columbus, which he joined in 1960, and was past Grand Knight of the Annapolis Council as well as Faithful Navigator of the Annapolis 4th Degree Assembly.

Even though Henry was not survived by any living relatives, he had many friends, colleagues and surrogate family members who mourn his loss and take comfort in remembering his remarkable life.

Visitation will be at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester Street Annapolis, MD 21401 on Friday January 18, 2019 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM. Henry will lie in state in Saint Mary's Catholic Church 109 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 on Saturday January 19 from 8:30 am to 10:15 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Mary's Catholic Church at 10:30 am. Henry will be interred in The Redemptorist Cemetery in Carroll Gardens (Located on Saint Mary's Catholic Church Grounds) immediately following the Mass, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Charles Carroll House immediately following the interment in which all are welcome (also located on Saint Mary's Catholic Church Grounds).

In Lieu of Flowers, tax-deductible donations may be made in Henry’s honor to the Knights of Columbus Annapolis Counci 1384 Charities, Inc., 610 N.Bestgate Rd., Annapolis, Md. 21401; or to the Henry M. Robert III Fund, established in 2016 to support general parliamentary educational programs and services at www.parliamentarians.org