Robert Watson Poole

Robert Watson Poole, 70, passed away Monday, June 10, 2024. He was affectionately known as "Bobby" by all who knew him. Bobby was born in Raleigh, North Carolina July 5, 1953 to Brooks Watson Poole and Kathleen ("Kat") Sauls Poole. He was preceded in death by both parents and his sister Patricia Poole Walton, and his beloved dog, Benji.
Bobby was a man of many passions: family, music, athletics, fur friends, local and state communities/government, and career. He was deeply devoted to and immensely proud of his family, as evidenced by the many tributes to them in his memorabilia albums. He had a zeal for playing guitar and keyboard in his younger years (was even in a band as a teen), and never lost his enthusiasm for music. He was an avid racquetball player, biker, and thoroughly enjoyed daily walks to downtown and back with Benji, his faithful companion. The things that Bobby was most passionate about and proud of, however, were his career, and his fervent devotion to his local community (Belvidere Park), the city of Raleigh, and the State of North Carolina. Among his neighbors Bobby was often called "the mayor of Belvidere" because of his commitment to seeing his neighborhood community thrive and improve on a consistent basis. He and Benji were well known fixtures out-and-about the streets of Belvidere, and he took great pride in the care and attention he poured into the neighborhood. Bobby was a committed and tireless volunteer in support of Raleigh at large and his beloved North Carolina, by organizing andassisting with community/state projects and programs. Artsplosure, Raleigh's annual nonprofit arts & cultural event, was a volunteer project he was particularly fond of and one he took great pride in. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the production and was instrumental in organizing the event. Bobby delighted in volunteering for political and civic events as well. His trove of mementos included notes of gratitude for his volunteer efforts at political fundraisers, inaugural committees for the Governor, and a myriad of other events. His commitment to excellence in those efforts garnered the respect and appreciation of Governors and other high-level officials alike.
Bobby's career with the State of North Carolina was something he was profoundly proud of. If asked what he did for a living, he liked to refer to himself as a "Real Estate Agent for the State." He played critical roles in working with conservation organizations in partnering relationships to preserve wild lands such as Mansonboro Island. As one of his longtime colleagues put it, "he was brilliant at what he did," and was genuinely appreciated and respected for his efforts in helping acquire lands that ultimately became part of North Carolina's public resources. Bobby was bold, self-confident, and a self-avowed people-person. He possessed the gift-of-gab and never met a stranger, which was an integral part of his ability to be successful at his job. Being equally comfortable talking to the average citizen or to the many high level, successful North Carolinians he dealt with daily was an invaluable asset. He loved his state and he had a passion for making sure that much of its land assets were protected. In fact, he was a hinge pin in developing the proposals to encourage eventual state involvement to protect North Carolina's land resources. He had a large part to play in the development of the Raleigh bikeways/bike paths. Bobby knew all the trails by heart and had negotiated purchases/transfers to ensure that this biking network would come to fruition. As a "Real Estate Agent for the State," Bobby was able to help other people and organizations achieve their goals as well. People often lamented about the frustration of dealing with the red tape that State policies and procedures posed, but Bobby was able to navigate those hurdles with or for them with great success. He worked on behalf of UNC-Chapel Hill in support of the conservation agencies noted earlier (Nature Conservancy, for example). His skill set and his contributions to our state were substantial.
Family and friends are welcome to gather to celebrate Bobby's life at a memorial service in the Chapel at Montlawn Memorial Park June 26, 2024 at 1:00 pm, followed immediately by a graveside committal service at 2 pm.