Robert L. (“Bob”) Carter

Carter—Robert L. (“Bob”) Carter, 92, on April 29, 2020, peacefully at the Parlin Hospice House in Wayland, Mass. Bob was born on March 3, 1928, in Indianapolis, Ind. He had two sisters, Elsa Littman and Charlotte Harris.

Bob was an avid Boy Scout and was awarded membership into the Order of the Arrow. He attended Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., as his father had. He was a conscientious objector during World War II, and did alternative service. Following graduation from Earlham, he met and married Beverly Stone, then attended the University of Illinois at Champaign–Urbana, and was awarded a master’s in library science.

Bob managed the North Country Library System in upstate New York, opening many local libraries in northern New York and a bookmobile serving small villages. He set up the first regional library system in the state of Illinois in Champaign–Urbana, and was the library director in New Canaan, Conn.; and Endicott, N.Y.

Bob and Beverly Stone, Bob’s first wife, raised three children, Amy, Elsa, and Paul; also two step children, Alan Becker and Andrew Becker, with Mary Anne Laisse, Bob’s second wife.

Bob was a generous father who enjoyed playing Santa Claus to his family at Christmastime. He was quiet, gentle, and a hard worker. His passions were nature, fine art, picture framing, and books. He never owned a TV and had little interest in computers.

After retiring from the library profession, Bob served as head cook at Gould Farm, a therapeutic community in Monterey, Mass., for people troubled with mental illness; and at summer programs for Nature’s Classroom and Friends Camp, both in Maine. His favorite meal to serve was a buffet with homemade soups and casseroles.

Bob is survived by three children, Paul Carter (Sarah), Elsa Carter, and Amy Clark (Sam).