SARASOTA, FL — Robert Leon McGrath, familiarly known as “Bob” died peacefully at his home in Sarasota, Florida, on June 21, 2019. He was 83 years old.

Known for his many achievements in academia and athletics and his extraordinary intellect and acerbic sense of humor, Bob was born in Washington, DC on July 29, 1935 to Robert L. and May Loofe McGrath. He grew up in Portland Oregon where he attended Central Catholic High School. After HS he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and was stationed in Garmisch Partenkirschen, Germany where he was editor of the Stars and Stripes, the magazine of the Armed Forces, and alpine ski raced on the U.S. Army Ski Team.

Bob earned his BA at Middlebury College and an MA and PhD in Art History at Princeton University in 1963. After earning his graduate degree, he spent a distinguished 45-year career as Professor of Art History at Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth Bob was universally respected and admired by his colleagues and students, all whom enjoyed his rigor, intelligence and humor.

He wrote numerous books and catalogues and curated many exhibits of American and New England mountain paintings. He was a talented lecturer who could speak eloquently about any aspect of art, especially on the art of the rugged mountains of New England, the vast landscapes of the Amercian West and the pastoral sublime of Vermont. In his later years he traveled extensively with Dartmouth alumni lecturing on the great art and architectural wonders of the world.

Bob loved the outdoor lifestyle of New England and shared his passion widely with family and friends. He and his first wife, Susan McGuire, and their four children lived in Norwich, Vermont for over 30 years on beautiful old farms. There the family gardened, raised sheep, chickens, and horses, skied, played soccer and games in barns and on the land. The family spent endless days hiking, running and skiing in the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. Together with Susan, Bob created an idyllic childhood for their four children, all whom have indelible memories and deep bonds to their childhood in Vermont.

Bob had a particular zest for alpine ski racing, which dated back to his childhood on Mount Hood, Oregon. In the back yard and neighboring fields in Vermont, he built ski lifts and set gates. He, his children and neighborhood skiers spent winter nights under the lights running slalom in the cow fields. Bob inspired and coached a generation of New England youth to become accomplished ski racers, including all of his children.

Bob also enjoyed success and notoriety as an athlete himself. He fiercely competed in running, soccer, tennis, master’s ski racing and golf and dueled it out with his friends, family and rivals into his 80s. He was admired for running gates at the Dartmouth Ski Way and Mount Hood in his late 70s, playing center forward in a soccer match at his 80th birthday party and diving for a tennis ball in a doubles match in his 81st year. Bob was a ferocious competitor, indeed, but he was also a great friend and mentor to all with whom he shared the pitch.

Bob shared 24 wonderful years with his second wife, Mary Ganier and her gracious family. Together Bob and Mary, and their extraordinary cats, enjoyed each other and life in Hanover, NH, Nashville, TN, Washington, DC and Sarasota, FL. They traveled extensively, spent time at the beach, enjoyed many friends, good food, fine wine, art and music and they loved the opera.

As a grandfather, “G-Bob” and “Bobo”, as he was affectionately called by his 10 grandchildren and step-grandchildren was loving, kind, funny and generous. He was much loved by all in his large extended family.

Bob will be remembered as an intelligent, engaging, fascinating person and all who knew him and shared in his passion for intellect and art, mountains and landscape, and sport and game will miss him dearly.

Bob is survived by his wife, Mary McGrath, of Sarasota, FL, his first wife and mother of his four children, Susan Morgan, of Bozeman, Montana, his two sons Rob McGrath (Crystal Christoferson) of Windham, NH and Felix McGrath (Selma Lie) of Oslo Norway, his daughter, Swithin McGrath (Ron Matelich) of Bozeman, Montana, and his step daughter Mary Dwight (Griz Dwight) of Washington, DC. He also leaves behind 8 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his youngest son, Bill McGrath (Darci McGrath) of Park City, Utah.

Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to The Dartmouth Skiway, 39 Grafton Turnpike, Lyme Center, NH 03769.

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