Robert Myles Moore died on Nov. 15, 2024 at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital with loved ones surrounding him, after many challenges with multiple cancers. He was 70.

Born on August 3, 1954, along with his twin brother Billy at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Bob spent his formative years growing up in Barnstable. He also had an early Martha’s Vineyard connection when his family lived on Island for two years while his father helped set up an Island telephone network. Bob and Billy were one of 11 sets of twins who attended Tisbury Elementary School in 1963.

Always a strong leader, accomplished athlete, inspiring coach, and lifelong compassionate and collaborative administrator and teacher, he leaves a legacy in many communities. He was president of the graduating 1972 Barnstable High School class; a varsity letterman nine times in baseball, hockey and soccer; team captain in soccer and baseball; and defensive player of the year of the only undefeated season winning the 1971-1972 Ice Hockey MA State Championship. He was inducted into the Barnstable High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. He also participated in several high school plays and was one of the first ECHO members of Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville.

In 1977, he graduated with a BA in history and a minor in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was a four-year member of the UMass baseball team as an outstanding catcher. For two consecutive years the team went to the Baseball College World Series. During his summer college days, he played in Cape Cod Baseball League for the Cotuit Kettleers.

After graduation, he worked in health care for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. He received his masters in education and then pursued doctoral studies in educational leadership and policy studies at New York University. Beginning his extensive travels and living experiences abroad, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1978 to 1980 in Tunisia teaching English to Arabic and French-speaking students. There he met his future wife Shari who was studying at the University of Tunis. They married in Northfield, Minn. on July 12, 1980. They returned to Tunis where Bob was employed working throughout the Middle East and several sub-Saharan African countries, and Shari taught in the American Cooperative School of Tunis.

In 1989, Bob and Shari were recruited to be principal and teacher at the predominantly Brazilian K-12 school, Escola Pan Americana da Bahia in Salvador, Brazil. The students and school community thrived under Bob’s educational leadership and ability to blend U.S. and Brazilian academic programs and curriculum. Among his great pleasures was embracing Brazilian culture and sharing it with invited friends and family, especially during Carnival. After four inspiring years of living and working in Brazil, he joined the progressive Little Red School House in Manhattan, N.Y. for six years as principal of the middle school.

In 1998, he was hired as the first director of the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, a K-12 school in West Tisbury. He held that position for 20 years. His goal was to bring together a highly skilled group of educators, administrators and community members who would work towards supporting the school’s mission to cultivate a safe and secure environment where everyone could experience learning success.

He threw himself into all facets of the Charter School — chaperoning field trips to Italy and Guatemala and overnight camping excursions, appearing in school plays, and traveling to Lowell to watch the school’s robotics team. He was a hands-on administrator and even briefly acted as an advisor to high school students. He was a clear favorite and animated guest reader in the classrooms of the youngest students. Every spring, much to his delight, the entire school would serenade him with a rousing rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, the glee on his face undeniable.

After his retirement in 2018, his commitment to education continued as director of educational instruction at the Dukes County House of Corrections. He worked individually with each inmate to make sure they had access to educational, vocational, social-emotional learning and rehabilitation opportunities.

Baseball was one of Bob’s greatest passions as an avid Red Sox fan and cherished member of the Vineyard Dogfish team. He played the game throughout his life and coached many children in Martha’s Vineyard Little League Baseball.

Heartfelt gratitude to his interdisciplinary medical team at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for their ongoing support and compassionate care with his complicated health issues.

He is survived by his loving partner and wife, Sharilyn Geistfeld, his brother William Moore (MaryBeth), sisters Jennifer Macho (Jerry), Moira Cabral (Neal), and Sonja Louro (Tony), his beloved nieces and nephews, and his extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother Constance, father Thomas, brother Tommy, sisters Pamela Murray and Brenda Malmgren, stepmother Ingrid, brother in law Neal Cabral, nephew Zachary Cabral and niece Meghan Moore.

A celebratory remembrance gathering will be held on Saturday, March 29 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School in West Tisbury. All are welcome to attend. Additionally, a funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church on South Main Street in Centerville, followed by a celebration of Bob’s life at the Hyannis Yacht Club, 490 Ocean Street in Hyannis, MA.

Bob’s wish was that donations be made for the new Bob Moore Learning Center at MV Public Charter School ensuring future educational opportunities for all students and Island community members. Donations can be made in his honor online at: mvoptionsineducation.org/take-action or by check to Options in Education (OIE), P.O. Box 869, West Tisbury, MA 02575.