CAMDEN — Robert ‘Bob’ Goggin, of Camden, died August 17, 2024 at a Boston Hospital.

Bob was born in Canastota, New York, to parents Lee W. Goggin and Virginia (Peach) Goggin, and he spent most of his growing up years in South Burlington, Vermont until the family moved to Connecticut after his junior year. He graduated from Wethersfield High School in Connecticut, and four years later from his beloved Hamilton College in New York. He went on to teach for over forty years in the Department of English at Newton South High School in Massachusetts.

He continued to study film and received a Masters degree from Boston University. Following his retirement from teaching high school, he pursued (and achieved) a Masters of Liberal Arts in History at Harvard Extension School. At Harvard Extension, he took delight in his role as a popular Teaching Assistant, introducing films that were relevant to the history courses. Even after his TA role ended, he continued to introduce films and to work with Prof. Don Ostrowski.

Bob’s interests followed his boundless curiosity – history, film, music, the out of doors, sailing, English literature, climate change – all had his deep attention. He was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, kept a sailboat at Camden Harbor, and read prodigiously. He was a collector – of books, music and especially of films – and his large library continued to grow even as his days grew short. Teaching was his profession and his passion. Those who knew Bob knew he was happiest sharing his interests, learning from others and imparting his knowledge to others. Bob began a film discussion group at his church in Massachusetts, and led a film program at his new home at Quarry Hill.

Slowed down first by heart problems and later by Parkinson's and cancer, he nonetheless carried on, and in the best Bob Goggin fashion, was delighted to be part of an experimental treatment program at Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston, to which he drove himself monthly. He enjoyed being part of a program that might provide a breakthrough, and he especially enjoyed his conversations with his physicians. His sudden final illness and death came as a great surprise, despite its inevitability.

There was no one from whom Bob could not learn, and he seemed happiest interviewing people he met along the way. He was a passionate and caring man, a man who easily choked up with tears of compassion. He adored his beloved dog Milo, and he spent much time at the dog park, meeting and greeting the many patrons of this canine community center. Milo’s death preceded Bob’s by only a month, and Bob’s sadness at that loss was huge.

He will be sorely missed by those who knew him.

Bob leaves his dear sister, Nancy Goggin of Camden, and many close friends and acquaintances whose lives and hearts he touched.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will take place Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 11 a.m., at First Universalist Church, 345 Broadway, Rockland, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741.