Robert Dodge St. George, a former faculty member, died on June 4, 2024, at the age of 93 after a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth (Simpler) Newlin St. George from 1991 until her death in 2018 and the late Joan Gustafson St. George from 1962 until her death in 1989. He is survived by his sons, David Emery St. George, WNS ‘81 (Jill) of Tustin, CA, and Robert Anderson St. George, WNS ‘82 (Lucia) of Placerville, CO, his stepdaughter, Lisa Newlin Galeano (Roman) of Montclair, NJ, and eight grandchildren.
Born in Newton, MA, on February 24, 1931, to Captain Emery St. George, US Army, and Jennie Dale St. George, he was educated in Newton and graduated from Newton High School, class of 1948. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College, class of 1952. While at Harvard, he was a member of the crew team, Hasty Pudding Club, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Navy ROTC. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Ensign in 1952 and served in the Korean War aboard the USS Guadalupe (AO-32), stationed in Long Beach, CA, and Sasebo, Japan. After completing his US naval service, he worked in commercial sales for the American Brake Shoe Company (later Abex) in Philadelphia, PA, from 1954 to 1961.
Upon receiving a master’s degree in American history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962, he joined the faculty of the Williston Northampton School, then Williston Academy, in Easthampton, MA. He served on the faculty at Williston Northampton in various teaching, coaching, and administrative positions from 1962 until his retirement in 1991 as Dean of the School. He received several honorary degrees from graduating classes at Williston Northampton, Cum Laude Society induction, and the award for Eminent Service to the school upon his retirement.
He enjoyed a lengthy retirement in Haverford and Berwyn, PA, filled with family gatherings, world travel, ski trips, and summer months spent at his home in Chatham, MA. He was also active in several Philadelphia clubs, including the Right Angle Club, British Officers’ Club, and the Society of the Sons of St. George, as well as the Harvard Club of Boston.
So sad to learn of Bob’s passing. He was my Lower Middler History teacher, mentor and advocate in two admin posts, and overall a really good man. He championed all the goodness of our School. He was student-centered, fair, honest, quietly masterful and funny. Understated and loyal. RIP.
I credit Mr. St. George with my admission to Trinity College. I am informed that Mr. St. George picked up the phone and recommended me to the college head of admissions and I was accepted that moment. That accomplishment is the byproduct of integrity and reputation, both of which Mr. at. George enjoyed in abundance. He was, in short, a great man and an extraordinary asset to the school- both then and even now.
Jeff Baker class of 1977
Another great man lost. He was appropriately reserved, thoughtful and fair. Struck me as a decent and caring human who raised his children to also be good people. My condolences to the St. George family and the Williston community.
I am so sorry to learn this.. he was a true leader, a wonderful man who was a role model to so many faculty and students..
My deepest condolences to the St. George’s family. I never had Bob as my teacher during my 2 years at Williston. However, I do remember him when I was visiting Williston for my entrance interview because he was the administrator who talked to my parents. It was demeanor and friendliness that influenced my parents’ decision to enroll me at Williston in 1969. It is always hard to hear news of former faculty/administrator passing. I celebrate the role he and Williston had played in my life. Thank you.
Mr. St. George was an unassuming gentleman who quietly guided the school and its students through great transitions. A true Williston great.
My condolences to the entire St George family, especially my classmate David. Mr. St. George was a very kind and fair educator and presence on campus. I am happy to read he enjoyed his retirement with his family. Rest in peace.
I remember Bob St George very well. I sat at his table with his wife for my first meal at Williston. He very quietly put down some attempted bullying of a new underclassmen at that meal. He was a true gentleman and set a great example for all of us.
Kim Gagne said it perfectly, “an unassuming gentleman.” Mr. St. George and my father shared their college years but ran in different circles. Still, upon discovering their connection when I was admitted, Mr. St. George promised my dad that he would look out for me. And he did. My fondest memory of him is the night before I took my last SATs my senior year. I had gone to ZooMass to see a film in the company of a recent graduate, and I missed the last bus from Amherst. I called the school, expecting Sykes to pick me up. But no, here is Mr. St. George in the WNS station wagon to squire me home. Apparently he thought so well of my father, or me, or my friendship with David and Bobby, that he never questioned what shenanigans might have transpired between the end of the movie and the last bus. Although I came to address many of our faculty by their first names or nicknames, he was and will always be “Mister St. George.”
Very sad to hear of the passing of Dean St George . He was a kind and compassionate man. I had many interactions with the Dean as a member of the Student Faculty advisory board which he chaired my senior year. He was a big fan of WNSFG and was often seen in attendance at most sports and academic events.
I remember Mr.(Bob) St. George well. He advised me to attend The College of Wooster in Ohio, and not to go to Bowdoin in 1976, as he said It was a “party” school. I wound up at Bowdoin. He also drove me to a men’s clothing store in Amherst called the “House Of Walsh” one weekend, where I bought a Harris Tweed Sportcoat which I wore for years. He was always going out of his way to do nice things for people(especially students.) I graduated from Williston Northampton in 1976, I beleive Mr. St. George was on the Cum Laude Board and was part of trying to get me this award when I graduated but I wasn’t eligible because I had a prior High School Diploma from The Wayzata High School in Wayzata, Minnesota in 1975, where I grew up.I was a post-graduate at Williston Northampton when I graduated in 1976. Bob May have been part of recommending me as Valedictorian for The Class of 1976, as I had an ending grade point average of 97.96 that year(not to toot my horn), however this title was awarded to Jennifer Greenspan, as she had been at Williston Northampton for many years and I had only been there for 1 Calendar Year(Summer Program in 1976 and Post-Graduate year Graduating in Spring 1976.) Bob was a very kind and generous man and a wonderful addition to The Williston Northampton School and I’m sure that he will be missed.
Bob was a kind and decent human being. RIP
In June 1967, I flew from Caracas, Venezuela (Maiquetia Airport) on a Pan Am 707 to JFK, then a flight to Bradley Field (now Bradley International Airport) in a prop airplane (I don’t remember the airline). I was on my way to Williston for Summer School to take English I. (I needed to improve my English, especially my writing skills.) It was already evening when I arrived at Bradley, and Mr. St. George picked me up in a station wagon to take me to Williston, specifically to Mem(orial) dorm, where all the Summer School students were housed. Needless to say, I was a bit apprehensive and disoriented – I felt that I had just landed on the moon. During the drive to Easthampton, he probably felt my discomfort, and by being upbeat, he was able to quell my uneasiness. It worked.
The following September, after “surviving” Summer School, I was in John Wright House as a lower middler, and Mr. St. George was the Dorm Master. At one point that fall, I told him I wanted to go to MIT, and he said something to the effect that if you want to go to MIT, you will go. He was very supportive! Needless to say, at that point, I had no clue about the college admissions process and not much else.
Condolences to Mr. St. George’s family and friends.
Luca F. Bencini-Tibo, 1970
PS. I ended up going to MIT.
Kiatiwongs Singha, class of 1978
My deepest condolences to the St.George ‘ s family. As an international student, it is extremely difficult to study in a foreign country where nothing is the same as in my home country. I attended Williston in the fall of 1976 ,and I was completely lost at the beginning. On the first day at school, I had to ask Jay Emmet ,my roommate, to take me to the dinning hall and everywhere-else because I was quite panic with the new environment. It was difficult for the two years at Williston but I had a great Dean of School who quietly helped looking after his students. Mr. St. George seemed to know each of his students very well ; he helped me get though my years of difficulties and successfully sent me to college in Boston. It is very true that he was very kind , caring ,compassionate and knowledgeable gentleman. It is difficult to fine a person who has all these qualities. Williston had a great man and this man will always be remembered. Rest in peace.
What a life well lived! As a student I didn’t know about all his exceptional accomplishments, and yet one couldn’t help but be impressed by his intellect and kind manner. I mostly thought of him as David and Bobby’s dad who always had a cheerful way about him. Reading about his life’s work, he clearly had a positive impact in everything he did. Williston was so very fortunate to have his caring, level-headed leadership skills for so many years. My sincere condolences to David, Bob and all of Mr. St. George’s family and close friends.
Bob St. George was an outstanding person and leader at Williston. He often stepped in to lead when things were difficult at the school. I served with him on the leadership team that was running the school when he was acting head as we awaited the arrival of Robert A. Ward who was finishing up at Amherst College as Dean of Students. He always amazed me by knowing the name of every student, yes every student. You will always be remembered at Williston for your kind and caring leadership. My condolences to his family.
Dean St. George was a pillar of the Williston Community when I was lucky enough to attend. He looked out for many people at Williston, and so did his sons, David and Robert. He was wit, intelligent, well-spoken, and looked great in formal wear. He leaves a long legacy. My family and I send our condolences to the St. George Family. You are all in our prayers.
I am deeply indebted to Mr. Robert St. George. During my junior year at Northampton High School, upon advice of a friend, I decided to transfer to Williston. So I borrowed my parents’ 1956 Plymouth and went to the campus without an appointment. Somehow I found my way to the office of Mr. St. George, who was then Director of Admissions. When his secretary ushered me into his office, Mr. St. George kept staring at the open door and promptly asked, “Where are your parents?” I replied that they didn’t know I was there. Not missing a beat, but clearly surprised by this atypical turn of events, Mr. St. George engaged me in a conversation of my background and intentions. At the conclusion of our chat, Mr. St. George gave me an application and financial aid forms to fill out.
Now the gig was up, and I had to inform my parents of what I was up to. While they could not understand why I wanted to transfer, they were not opposed, but felt uncertain and perhaps embarrassed by sharing information of their income status. So a week or two later, I returned my application in person to Mr. St. George without the financial aid forms and explained to him my predicament. Astonishingly, he volunteered to visit my parents at our home in Florence (a section of Northampton) to allay their concerns about sharing details of their finances. His visit was successful. I was accepted and received enough financial aid to make it happen.
I never got the chance to thank Mr. St. George for his decision one day to help me in ways that went well beyond what his job required or what I deserved. But I will never forget nor be amazed by and appreciative of Mr. St. George’s big-hearted generosity. It was a life-changer for me.
I am saddened to hear about the passing of Bob St. George. Mr. St. George was truly that-a saint! He was so generous to me when I found myself in some disciplinary trouble at the end of my junior year. He spoke to me with an even keeled empathy & kindness. One time, he gave me a ride to Williamsburg so I could attend a weekend arts program. An open hearted good person. He made an impression on me & I am happy I got to tell him that at a past reunion. Sending ease & comfort to his whole family.
After two years at Choate, I transferred to Williston in 1982. Mr. St. George was our Dean of Students at the time and he was very welcoming. He was one of those rare leaders who exhibited both great strength and great compassion; he was universally respected and loved. As happens with teenagers, there were a few minor bumps, and Mr. St. George was always there with an open door and a kind word of encouragement. I often think of Mr. St. George when I think of leadership. My two years at Williston are some of my most cherished memories…and Mr. St. George stands prominently among those memories. My sincerest condolences to his family.