Robert "Bob" Paynter

Northampton, MA - Robert "Bob" Willard Paynter of Northampton died on April 30, 2023, after a long illness. He was born on September 22, 1949, in Chester, PA to Marjorie McDowell and Robert Charles Paynter. He took joy in being an equinox baby his whole life. He grew up playing sports, reading history and fiction, and having a good time with his brothers Rick and Dave, cousin Babs, and a large collection of friends.

Bob had a curious spirit and thrived on days full of learning and exploration. Books took him around the world and through time, from lefty political magazines, to dense intellectual histories, to imaginary worlds among the stars. The woods and mountains of New England brought adventures in all seasons on foot, bicycle and xc skis. Jazz music and his trumpet were the soundtrack of every journey. And chance encounters with strangers were an opportunity to make new friends, hear new perspectives and learn something fascinating. Few subjects fell outside his interest, and his conversations rambled as freely as he did, to the occasional distraction of his loving family.

A lifelong educator, Bob was passionate and generous in sharing what he knew. Bob taught in the anthropology departments at Queens College (1978-1981) and at UMass - Amherst (1981-2015) where he was also a committed union member and officer. He was proud of UMass's role as a public university serving the people of the Commonwealth. However, teaching was not confined to classrooms for Bob. It was something that happened on little league diamonds, waiting in line at the farmers market, covered in dirt at a dig site, and in everyday interactions with friends, family, and strangers.

Mostly, Bob asked questions. As a young man he questioned the Vietnam War and continued to do so whenever the country moved towards war. Throughout his life he questioned (and occasionally railed against) the roots of injustice and inequality in our society. And he questioned what had shaped the world we know, and how we might build a better one. He became an anthropologist and a teacher in part to answer his own questions, but also because he saw them as paths towards building a more just and kind world. His work at the W.E.B Du Bois homesite in Great Barrington, Historic Deerfield, and in making the University more responsible to the indigenous people of the region, brought him pride and a wide network of friends and colleagues that he delighted in.

For us, he was a warm husband, father, and brother who was part of building a loving home. He is survived by his wife, Linda Morley, son, Braden Paynter, brothers Richard, David, and Manuel (of his chosen Barcelona family), near-sister Barbara, and a far-flung network of other cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, colleagues, and graduate students.

A memorial service will be held in the coming months. In the interim, condolences may be sent directly to the family or by visiting www.DROZDALFUNERALHOME.com. To honor Bob, please read something new, stand up for someone in trouble or make donations to the Du Bois Freedom Center in Great Barrington (www.duboisfreedomcenter.org).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily Hampshire Gazette on May 4, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Paynter

9 Entries

Claire Smith

April 8, 2024

I admired Bob's work from afar for many years. In 1999 I travelled in South Africa with him and Martin Wobst and Sven Ouzman and 16 Aboriginal people from Australia. We had fun, but it was also a wonderful cross-cultural learning experience, and I came to appreciate Bob's kindness and humour and clear- headedness. The world is less without him. My condolences to Linda and his family.

JOE RUSSELL

November 5, 2023

Bob served on my thesis committee, back in the 1990's. I never failed to find value in everything Bob said or in most of what he did. I've just now learned of Bob's passing and I am genuinely saddened to learn of it. My condolences go out to his family. We have lost a true mentor. The world is a far lesser place without Bob and even Heaven, itself, is improved by his presence, there.
To show my appreciation for his service to me, I once gave him an autographed Ted Williams baseball. Our mutual love of "the Game" was strong. When he opened the box I'd handed to him, he grinned that room-warming grin of his and said, simply: "Son-of-a-gun! Teddy Ballgame!." Then he shook my hand and we both grinned, together.
We won't see his like again, very soon.
Most Sincerely,
Joe Russell
Monson

Howard Lurie

August 7, 2023

Rob had a profound and enduring influence on me when I was a UMASS undergrad right after he arrived on campus in the early 1980s. He introduced me to the idea of historical archeology and it's stayed with me through me entire career. Of all the great faculty I had the honor of working with, Rob gave me the tools and new insights to see things differently. So sorry to hear of his passing. May his memory be a blessing to his fam and friends.

Bonnie Clark

June 28, 2023

You don't know me, but I know Bob and I can only imagine how much his loss echoes through your lives. A brief explanation--I am a fellow historical archaeologist who Bob mentored, even though I was never his student or a research collaborator. At one particularly memorable conference, Bob took hours out of his day to talk to me about how to build a sustainable field school at a time when I was really struggling. His advice was so sound and he later checked in with me to see how I was faring. I so appreciated his friendship and kindness. He was an amazing man whose legacy is profound. Please accept my condolences.

Maria-Lydia Spinelli

Planted Trees

Ying Li

May 20, 2023

I know Bob when I was the lab coordinator in the Anthropology Department at UMass Amherst. I remember those days when Bob and I spent hours in the archaeological lab checking archives and historical artifacts, and generating catalogs. I remember I was his TA for the ANTHRO 101 course Human Nature. I'm still so impressed by how Bob could handle such big class, standing on a big stage and simply talking so passionately about archaeology, culture, human, and so on and so on. I remember those days when he and I ate lunch outside the Du Bois Library. He was curious about my culture and background. He had always been so supportive, patient, and kind to listen to your thoughts and experiences. As an international student, all these meant a lot to me to make me feel welcomed and belonged. I miss you, Bob. I will keep thinking about you, telling my friends and families about you no matter where I am. Sincere condolences to all of your family.

Anthony Martin

Planted Trees

John S. Wilson

May 6, 2023

I first met Bob when visiting Plimoth Plantation in 1971, where he was standing in bottom of a hole with sawdust pouring onto his head: the very model of working class hero. Didn't really get to know him until 2nd year of grad school when we both lived in a rented house known to both faculty and students as "the Hadley Zoo" (Linda will recall). He went on to the sterling career described; myself to government service. That may sound like very different paths, but we were both working toward the same goal: trying to "change the world; rearrange the world" in terms of conveying America's past as it really happened, both positive and negative, rather than as too often mythologized. In belief that understanding of real history could not only help us all to understand the past, but better understand what the future should look like. Bob and I never talked much about that. It was just understood between us, as with many like minded friends and colleagues. I miss you Bob. Sincere condolences to all of your family.

John

Maureen C allaghan Bigham

May 5, 2023

Whenever Bobby talked to you his eyes never left your face. He would always listen carefully and make you feel interesting, even if you weren't. Great family memories. Miss you cuz.

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