Bob was born September 1, 1930, the son of Mildred A. and C. Eugene Kirkby. Growing up, Bob was a member of 4-H, Boy Scouts, and Air Scouts, and earned his private pilot license in High School (the youngest in New York State at that time).
Bob graduated from Norwich High School in 1948 and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Hartwick College in 1952. Upon graduation, he worked for Social Services in Norwich, and then attended basic training with the U.S. Army 69th Infantry Division.
His career in education began in 1955 with a teaching position in
Oxford, NY. After receiving his Masters Degree in 1957 from
SUNY Oneonta, he accepted a teaching job at newly opened Perry Browne School in Norwich, NY. Highlights of his teaching career included – National Science Foundation Award, Teacher of the Year
Award, and the PTA Founder’s Day Award. In 1967, he became Assistant Principal of Stanford J. Gibson School in Norwich, NY and in 1970 became the Principal until he retired in 1987.
Retirement did not slow Bob down… First, he returned as an Interim Principal for Norwich School District. He worked as a courier for NBT Bank, as a consultant for Chenango County, as Inspector of Elections in Plymouth, NY, and as Commissioner for the Plymouth Fire Department. He was a member of the Iroquois Rod & Gun Club, American Legion Post 189, and a life member of Elks Lodge 1222.
Bob was a family man who loved his children and grandchildren dearly.
He enjoyed fishing (as evidenced by his license plate – 4 FISHIN), antique cars (especially Model A’s), hunting, gardening, pitch, and morning coffee with “the boys”. He was an avid fan of the New York Giants and the Syracuse Orange basketball team. He and his wife Karen enjoyed traveling and visited all fifty states, Europe, and enjoyed 45 cruises together. He also loved spending time at Chenango Lake with family and friends, and owned a cottage there since 1968.
On April 17, 1954 he married Patricia A. McAvoy, who predeceased him.
On August 27, 1988 he married Karen L. Bush, who survives. Besides his wife, he is survived by his son, Rob Kirkby and his wife Nicole (PA); his daughter Susan Layman and her husband Michael (Norwich); his daughter MaryBeth McAvoy and her husband Kyle (PA); his daughter Jennifer Tavares and her husband Nathan (Ithaca); his 14 grandchildren - Caroline Randazzo and her husband Jake, Allison, James, Katherine, Isabelle and Madeline Kirkby; David, Andrew, and Emily Layman; Ryan, Christopher, and Liam McAvoy; Xander and Miko Tavares. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Bob was predeceased by his mother and father, his brother Harold, and his sister Katherine.
Calling hours are Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at R. J. Fahy Funeral Home. Memorial Service at Broad Street United Methodist Church on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 11:00am. Contributions can be made to Hospice of Chenango County, 33-39 Court St., Norwich, NY 13815 or the Broad Street United Methodist Church roof/steeple fund.
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