Robert Newton Cleaver

Robert (Bob) Newton Cleaver of Chestertown, MD, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2017, with his family by his side. He was 83 years old. Bob was born on November 25, 1933 in West Grove, PA, and is the son of the late Arthur Davis Cleaver and Ruth Newton Cleaver of Chrome, PA. Bob’s first eight years of school were spent at the Chestnut Grove one room school house in Oxford, PA. He later graduated from the Oxford High School in 1951. Following this, he attended the Goldie Beacom Business College in Wilmington, DE, and received an Associates Degree in Business. He enlisted in the Army in 1953 and served until 1955. There his business degree benefitted him as he was enrolled in the Adjutant General School. Eventually he was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, where he was assigned to the 5th Corps Headquarters working in the Ministry Intelligence Unit during the Korean War. After his military service, he attended Washington College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1958. It was there that he met and married fellow student, Elizabeth Ann Hurst, his wife of 57 years. They had two daughters Catherine and Nancy. Together they enjoyed extensive travel, gardening, entertaining and visiting their grandchildren. After graduation from college Bob began his 32-year career with Aetna Life and Casualty. His work with Aetna took him to Rochester, New York, Toronto and Montreal, Canada and then finally to Grand Rapids, MI, where he served as General Manager for the Casualty Division of Western Michigan. Bob retired from Aetna in 1990. Following retirement, Bob and his wife, Ann, moved back to Chestertown and built a home. Bob served as Interim Alumni Director for Washington College three times. He continued to enjoy and support Washington College Alumni events over the years and was co-president of the Kent and Queen Anne's County Alumni Chapter. He was also a member of the 1782 Society Executive Committee and an active member in the Chestertown community serving as board member and chair of the Kent County Historical Society, the Chester River Hospital Foundation and Hospice of Kent County. Additionally, he served as a board member of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce and the Chester River Yacht Club. Bob is survived by his daughter, Catherine Scott, and her husband, Robert Scott, of Kingwood, TX, and his daughter Nancy Beam and her husband Troy Beam of Wallkill, NY. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Jessica, Evan and Rachel Scott as well as several cousins. He is predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth Ann Hurst Cleaver, and his sister, Helen Cleaver Reburn. A memorial service will be held at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newman Funeral Home at 130 Speer Road in Chestertown, MD 21620 on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Cleaver Hurst Fund at Washington College. This is an endowed fund that assists with the financial needs of students from the Eastern Shore particularly from Kent, Cecil, and Queen Anne's Counties.

Robert Newton Cleaver

November 25, 1933 - September 11, 2017