Obituary of Robert David Hale

Robert David Hale of Pembroke, died peacefully on Monday, October 21, 2013. He was born January 16, 1928 to David W. and Rea Phillips Hale in St. Jerome’s Hospital, Batavia, New York. As a child of the Depression, Mr. Hale lived in many locations in the area, including the Genesee County Home, with his Aunt Maude and Uncle Will. As a teenager, Mr. Hale contracted Rheumatic Fever, which kept him bed ridden for long stretches. A voracious reader, Mr. Hale devoured any and all of the newspapers and books he could get his hands on. He graduated from Batavia High School in 1945, and then attended Hamilton College for one year, leaving after his freshman year in order to help support his family. Upon returning to Batavia, he worked in a lumberyard, as a census taker and a bookkeeper. Mr. Hale became involved with the Batavia Players, a semi-pro community theater group that he had first acted with while in high school. Inspired, he took acting classes with Jane Keeler at the Studio Theater in Buffalo, and made the decision to “go pro.” In the early Fifties, he acted in many troupes including the Duxbury Playhouse in Duxbury Massachusetts and the Gershwin Theater at Boston University. He returned to Duxbury in 1956 to work at Westwinds Bookshop and start a community theater group, which is where he met Lydia Lund Almy. They were married August 20, 1958 and lived for several years in LeRoy, NY where Mr. Hale was assistant editor of the LeRoy Gazette News, one of the oldest continuing weekly newspapers in the country. From there his family moved to Deep River, CT where he became the Managing Editor of the Curtiss Johnson Publications, a string of weekly newspapers in the Connecticut River Valley. He became an established columnist writing both opinion pieces and book reviews. In 1961 Mr. Hale was hired by Connecticut College to create a “real book store”. During his eight years at Connecticut College, the store was very successful and his reputation as a bookseller was established. In 1969, Wellesley College hired Mr. Hale as general manager of Hathaway House Bookshop. During his tenure Hathaway House became a nationally renowned bookstore, known for its vast inventory, but more so for the continuous stream of authors that Mr. Hale brought in to speak. The Hathaway House Author series became a model for bookstore/author events all over the country. In 1974 Mr. Hale was elected to the Board of Directors of American Booksellers Association. He was elected President of the ABA in the late Seventies. He left Hathaway House in 1978 to become the Associate Executive Director of the ABA in New York City. While with the ABA, Mr. Hale worked with Daniel Boorstin, librarian of Congress to establish The Center for The Book. After it’s enactment by Congress, he was appointed to the Executive Committee, on which he served for six years. During this time Mr. Hale traveled to Nigeria, New Zealand and Fiji to help those countries promote reading and the use of books in schools. He also was chosen to stock the personal libraries at the White House and Camp David for President Carter and his family. After many years of long distance commuting and world travel, Mr. Hale returned to Westwinds Bookshop in 1983 as owner/operator and once again established an author series. It was during this time that he carved out the time to pursue his dream of writing his own books. The first, The Elm at the Edge of the Earth was published in 1990. Based on his childhood experiences at the County Home, “Elm” as he referred to it, was a deeply personal story that earned critical acclaim, if not tremendous sales. Mr. Hale was thrilled to hear from readers, teachers and professors who connected with the characters he had created. His second book, The Cloud Dweller, did not achieve the same level of acclaim, closing the final chapter of Mr. Hale's professional career. After selling Westwinds in the late Nineties, Mr. Hale increased his involvement with the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society, serving in many capacities, including President. Mr. Hale's impact on the world of books and publishing was far reaching. Whether encouraging young authors to push on or organizing huge events, he always sought to create a something great. He was considered a mentor to authors and booksellers alike. One on one, he was able to find the perfect books for his customers, engaging in conversation until he found the right fit. His written book columns were published for years, providing readers with his own spin on a wide variety of publications. On the big stage, Mr. Hale was truly at his best. Combining his theatrical background with a deep passion for the written word, he was nationally known for his book talks. He was very comfortable working with authors of all backgrounds as well as celebrities. As the Master of Ceremonies at countless events, Mr. Hale incorporated humor and tales of his own life to make even the largest events feel warm and personal. Mr. Hale's personal interests were diverse. He loved animals of all varieties. Together he and Lydia had a small farm for many years with goats, chickens, ducks and geese. Miniature horses touched his heart most of all, particularly Taurus his gorgeous stallion. Mr. Hale was a devout Roosevelt Democrat with a deep knowledge of politics that was hard to argue with. His gardening skills displayed a flair for color and presentation and he was most proud of the oasis he had created outside the kitchen of his Pembroke home. A loyal friend to so many people, Mr. Hale loved to entertain and to visit others particularly in his great circle of local characters. Most of all Mr. Hale loved his family. He cherished his grandchildren, craving time with them even as his own pace had slowed. He was their greatest fan, cheering every step of the way. The one person he loved most was Lydia, his wife and best friend for 55 years. Mr. Hale is survived by his brother Donald, his wife Lydia, his children, Rob, Beth, Chris and David, and nine grandchildren. A private burial will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013. A celebration of Mr. Hale's life will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2013, 2:00 PM at the First Parish Church in Duxbury Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Fund for Nature.