Robert Pollard Fetter

Fetter—Robert Pollard Fetter, 92, on January 22, 2024, of cancer at Broadmead, a Quaker retirement community in Cockeysville, Md. Bob was born on October 20, 1931, the son of Frank and Elizabeth Fetter in Princeton, N.J. His father’s academic career led to the family living in Princeton, N.J.; England; Washington; and Illinois.

From early on Bob had a keen interest in trains. He worked at the Chicago rail yards at age 16. Following graduation from high school in Chicago, Bob hitchhiked to Canada to work on railroad track construction. During his college years from 1949 to 1953 at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pa., he worked summers on railroad projects in the Midwest, Alaska, and Wyoming.

From 1953 to 1955, Bob served as an Army postal clerk. After earning a master’s degree from Harvard Business School in Massachusetts in 1957, Bob moved to Baltimore, Md., to work for the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. In Baltimore, he met Elizabeth “Susie” Ann Hutcheson. They married in June 1960 and, until 1983, lived a rich life in Baltimore with their children, Allen and Elizabeth. In 1972, Bob was hired as director of market research at Southern Railway. He finished his career with Norfolk Southern Railway in Roanoke, Va., retiring in 1987.

Bob devoted energy and enthusiasm to his Quaker meetings and to the wider Religious Society of Friends. He served on the Supervisory Committee for Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) and as a representative to Friends United Meeting. In 1997, he and Susie jointly delivered BYM’s Fiftieth Anniversary Carey Memorial Lecture at the annual sessions. Bob also served on the boards of two long-running Quaker-founded groups: the Miles White Beneficial Society of Baltimore City, established 1874; and the McKim Community Association, established 1821.

Bob was deeply involved with Friends Committee on National Legislation; he and Susie coordinated FCNL’s fiftieth anniversary jubilee in 1992–93. In 2001, Bob served as clerk of the Friends General Conference Gathering. Over the years he served American Friends Service Committee in various capacities. In 1996, Bob and Susie were Friends in Residence with Washington Quaker Workcamps in Greene County, Ala., helping to rebuild African American churches. Bob led hiking groups for high school Quakers (Hi-Qs) at Stony Run Meeting in Baltimore, which led to BYM’s Hi-Q “Teen Adventure” hiking, canoeing, and service project trips. Other volunteer efforts included support for Habitat for Humanity in the United States and Central America; numerous local, state, and national political campaigns; and other service organizations.

Bob was described as a “foundational member” at Roanoke Meeting. He served as clerk, on numerous committees including for First-day school, and was treasurer for many years. Bob mentored younger Friends to exercise their gifts on behalf of the meeting and the wider world.

Bob and Susie moved back to the Baltimore area in 2007, settling at Broadmead and joining Gunpowder Meeting in Sparks, Md. Bob served as a trustee, member of Ministry and Counsel, and led Bible Study. He was involved with the meeting’s racial justice working group as well as BYM’s Working Group on Racism.

Bob and Susie took a lead in raising Quaker consciousness among Broadmead’s residents, organizing and hosting “Quaker Lunch” for many years. They were active with the residents’ newspaper, serving as co-editors-in-chief for a time. Bob served on the Broadmead Board of Trustees and on the Multicultural Committee.

Bob was predeceased by his wife, Susie Fetter, in 2019 after 59 years of marriage.

Bob is survived by two children, Allen Hutcheson Fetter (Danielle Hermey) and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Fetter Kellett (Paul); four grandchildren; one brother, Thomas Whitson Fetter; one sister, Ellen Fetter Gille; and his companion, Jean Wilson.