Robert Litchfield Scott Was U.S. Navy Veteran

Robert Litchfield Scott died on Oct. 5 at Piper Shores, his home in Scarborough, Me. Elizabeth Winston, his wife of 27 years, cared for him constantly during his long and painful battle with cancer.

Throughout his youth, Bob Scott spent summers on the Vineyard. During his last year, he shared fond memories of vineyard summer life with Jack Ware, a lifelong friend and fellow resident at Piper Shores, a life care retirement community on the ocean facing Saco Bay. They reminisced about the girls and boys they met on dance floors, tennis courts and events at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, where they both sailed competitively against such skilled helmsmen as Frank Jewett, Hugh Schwarz, Kingman Brewster, Gardner Cox, Elliott Willauer, Arthur and Rich Besse and others.

Mr. Scott was born Feb. 28, 1917, in Newton Center, the fifth child and fourth son of Albert Lyon and Alice Chamberlin Scott. He was graduated from Moses Brown Academy and from Harvard College in 1938. He earned his master's degree from Columbia University and taught at the University of Wisconsin. His work toward a Ph.D. at Columbia was interrupted by service in the Navy during World War II. He retired as a lieutenant commander and went on to teach English and government at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Along the way, Mr. Scott served as curator of Sagamore Hill, formerly home of President Teddy Roosevelt, and operated the Scott Book Center in Annapolis, Md., until retiring in 1977 and returning to the Vineyard. Later the Scotts lived for 18 years in Cape Elizabeth, Me., before becoming residents at Piper Shores nearby.

Mr. Scott was a talented painter whose work won many awards. He was also a raconteur of prodigious memory and wit, endlessly curious and eager to learn.

In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, Mr. Scott leaves an extended family, including two of his brothers, Albert L. Scott Jr. and Richard C. Scott.

Contributions in memory of Robert L. Scott may be made to the John Winston Levinson Memorial Scholarships Fund, care of the Development Office, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04042.