Robert J. Corbin

Bob was born and raised in the neighborhood of Merrymount, Quincy by his parents James and Ruth (Myatt) Corbin and was the eldest brother of Carol (Corbin) Denning of Intervale, NH, Janet (Corbin) Gorman of Quincy, and James Corbin of South Weymouth and Bonita Springs, FL. He was also the brother of the late Eileen (Corbin) Menz of Quincy.

Bob graduated from Quincy High School in 1950 and then pursued his undergraduate degree at Boston University, graduating in 1954. Bob later received his Masters of Education at Bridgewater State College in 1966. Bob proudly served in the US Army from 1955 to 1957 where he was stationed at Kagnew Station in Eritrea, East Africa where he taught his first class. Bob was hired by Scituate Public Schools in 1957 where he taught at Jenkins Elementary, Scituate Junior High (currently Gates Middle School), and Scituate High School. Upon commencing his career with Scituate public schools, Bob taught night classes in citizenship/civics to recently arrived members of the Cape Verde community creating many lifelong friendships.

One of Bob’s highlights from his time with Scituate Public Schools was a one year sabbatical leave in 1976 to create the first ever school curriculum for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Colombia Point, Boston. He was thrilled to work alongside former presidential aide and Library curator, David Powers. Upon returning to teaching, he created a course on the American Presidency which proved very popular with the student body.

Bob deeply enjoyed several trips to Spain with the Scituate Public Schools Language Department, which allowed him to grow his love for the Spanish language and culture. Even though Bob retired from teaching in 1994, he continued working via substitute teaching at Scituate Public Schools, Derby Academy, and St. Jerome’s in Weymouth. In 2016, Bob was named Scituate’s ‘Citizen Of The Year’ as a thank you from a community that he loved and cared for so deeply.

Aside from teaching, Bob was a long time active member of the Scituate Historical Society where he served as a trustee and project volunteer. He was also an active member of the Quincy Historical Society. He also deeply enjoyed giving presentations about local history including the Blizzard of 1978, historical street corner names, and the first Greenbush Railroad.

Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean (Cantwell) Corbin.

He was a loving and devoted father to Dianne Tullish of Marshfield, Stephen Corbin and wife Patricia of Prescott, AZ, David Corbin and wife Eleanor of Hanover, John Corbin and wife Wanda of Scituate, and William Corbin and wife Caroline of Norwell. Bob was also the adoring and charismatic grandfather of 10, and great grandfather of 13. He was also an inspiration to all that knew him, especially his former students. He is predeceased by his son Robert J. Corbin Jr.

The Corbin family would like to thank the Norwell Visiting Nurses Association and Brookdale Assisted Living, Quincy MA.

Visitation will be held on Monday, September 12, 2022 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Rd, Scituate, Massachusetts. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 10:00 am at Saint Mary of the Nativity, 1 Kent Street, Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts.