Robert Hanford Ingersoll

Robert Hanford Ingersoll of Chestertown, MD passed away peacefully at his home on April 29, 2024. Bob was born at Kent and Queens Anne Hospital on June 13, 1947. He was the second of four sons born to Daniel Winthrop Ingersoll and Clare (Pat) Stevens Ingersoll. His childhood was spent on Silver Hill Farm in Quaker Neck where he learned a great deal about nature, farming and mechanics from his parents. After graduating from Chestertown High School in 1965, Bob attended the University of Virginia. Following a semester in Charlottesville, he transferred to the University of Maryland and studied there until June of 1967, when he surprised his parents by signing up to join the U.S. Navy. This decision turned out to be pivotal in Bob’s life. After training to become Aviation Machinist Mate, Bob was stationed in Brunswick, Maine with Naval Patrol Squadron Ten. Patrol Squadron 10 was deployed to Iceland, the Azores and Bermuda for extended periods during his time of enlistment, adding considerably to his world experience. Bob married Maine resident Gladys Mobbs in 1969 and in 1970 his daughter Erica was born. When his active Navy enlistment was over in 1971, Bob returned to Chestertown with his family. He attended Chesapeake College and Washington College getting closer to his degree at each. While back in Quaker Neck going to college, he restored a farmhouse, co-edited a book, volunteered for various nonprofits, and helped start the earliest recycling effort in Kent County on Washington Avenue. In 1973 Bob returned to Brunswick, Maine and finished his pursuit of a political science degree with a BA at the University of Southern Maine. He also joined the Naval Reserve unit at the Naval Air Station in Brunswick and began his career as a lobster fisherman by purchasing a boat with a close friend from the Navy. While he found the work to be exciting and put him on the ocean that he loved, it also was perilous and cold. Four years into the venture he retired, after nearly drowning in the Atlantic during a winter trap-hauling mishap. Bob turned to carpentry for the next phase of his career. Bob and Gayle (nee Miller) Betts were married on July 14, 1982. Gayle had a daughter, Danielle and a son, Jason. Bob then began sailboat chartering captain during warmer months. Eventually, sailing resulted in the creation of the Long Reach Charter Company, owned and operated with Gayle. Long Reach Charter would charter sailboats in Maine in the summers and then move operations to beautiful island locations during the winter months. Gayle and Bob were able to sail to many exciting and memorable locations. Following the death of his father in 2005, Bob and Gayle moved home to Silver Hill Farm. Bob wished to be supportive of his recently widowed mother and to help her manage the farm. Bob dedicated his skills and spare time to helping make the Chestertown community a better place to live and the Chester River a better river to enjoy. His volunteer efforts were immense. He offered his contracting talents, free of any fees, to supervising important construction projects: Sumner Hall, Sultana (all of them from the Schooner Sultana to the latest Lawrence Preserve Project), the Chestertown Marina project, the Kent County Arts Council building restoration, Kent Attainable’s new and planned single family homes. Bob also worked with Rebuilding Together Kent County on important smaller projects, worked at the polls during elections, and on the Board for the Kent County Library Foundation and Shore Rivers. Privately, he would help any individual who had a problem that he could solve. His mechanical knowledge and diagnostic skills were incredible to behold and his energy was infectious to all those around him. Bob is survived by his wife Gayle and her children, Danielle Felts (Cory), their children Lily, Boone and Darby, and Jason Betts; his daughter Erica Ingersoll, her children, Kirk Arnold and Lyndsay Arnold; his three brothers, Daniel Ingersoll, Jr. (Kate); William Ingersoll (Susan); and Jared Ingersoll (Elizabeth King) and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of life will be held in the fall to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sultana Education Foundation (www.sultanaeducation.org), Sumner Hall (www.sumnerhall.org/donate), or ShoreRivers (www.shorerivers.org/ donate).

Robert Hanford Ingersoll

June 13, 1947 - April 29, 2024