Robert Seth Seymour

Robert Seth Seymour (Bob to everyone who knew him) quietly made his final goodbye to a full life as a bookseller, brother, uncle, godfather and friend on February 27th, 2024. Bob was born in Winsted Connecticut on February 7th, 1939 to Seth H. Seymour, a banker and later, a bookseller, and Mildred (Garney).

Bob spent a happy childhood with his sister Nancy, and his brother, Alan, first in the village of Robertsville, Connecticut and then near Colebrook Center in the 1810 farmhouse and barn Seth purchased in 1955. Bob spent a great deal of his childhood roaming the woods of Colebrook fishing and playing pickup games of baseball with his friends whenever he could - dreaming of the day he could be a hitter for the Dodgers. That day never came, however, since Bob, aided and abetted by his father, caught the passion for bookselling early - and it would change the trajectory of his life forever.

Following his high school years in The Gilbert School, Bob made a daring escape to the wilds of Georgia with his best friend, Robert (yes, Bob) Richard, where the Bobs took basic training and later became members of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Corps. The Bobs' enlistment ended one day too soon to be sent to Vietnam - no matter how hard they cajoled their commanding officer to let them go.

After returning from the Army, Bob worked in the book barn with his father, and eventually became the manager of the University of Hartford Bookstore. In 1963, Bob became his father's partner in the Colebrook Book Barn, while continuing to manage the University of Hartford Bookstore and other university bookstores in the area.

Bob moved back to Colebrook and became the sole proprietor of the Colebrook Book Barn in 1977, and a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) three years later. Bob was known throughout the bookselling and collecting communities as a kind, generous colleague and an expert in Americana, American publishing, and American bindings, as well as an enthusiastic mentor to collectors and new booksellers.

A selfless man, Bob always put his customers and fellow booksellers first, and was unfailingly affable and always willing to help - a quintessential New England bookman who was willing to share his vast store of book lore and knowledge with anyone who asked. Bob's kindness and generosity extended into his personal life as well.

When both Bob's brother, Alan, and his dear friend, Bob Richard, died young, Bob became even more of a loving uncle to Cathy and Seth and evermore the devoted godfather to Eric, spending as much time with each of them as he possibly could. Bob was always "there" for anyone who needed him, from a customer or colleague struggling to find a rarity that had eluded them for years, to a friend or neighbor who needed a ride to the store or a shoulder to cry on - he was a true mensch in every sense of the word.

Bob was predeceased by his brother, Alan G. Seymour, and is survived by his sister, Nancy J. Seymour and his niece, Cathrine W. Seymour, of Johnston, RI; his nephew, Seth A. Seymour of Vernon, CT, and his godson Eric Richard of Winsted, CT as well as a multitude of colleagues and friends in the antiquarian book world who mourn his loss.

Friends may call for Bob on May 18, 2024 at the Montano-Shea Funeral Home, 922 Main Street, Winsted (www.montano-shea.com) from 10 AM - Noon with the service between 12 PM and 12:45 PM. The internment will follow at the South Cemetery in Colebrook for family and invited friends.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Colebrook Land Conservancy (www.colebrooklandconservancy.org) and/or to the Colebrook Associates (www.colebrookassociates.org). To share a memory of Bob or send words of condolence to his family, please visit www.montano-shea.com