Robert F. Westervelt

Robert F. Westervelt, 93 years old, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 20, 2021 at Lanier Village Estates in Gainesville, GA.

He was born in New York City, NY on April 6, 1928 to parents Francis and Beatrice Westervelt, who have predeceased him. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1949, earned a Masters in Fine Arts from Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, CA, and later a PhD from Emory University in 19th century American painting.

After college, Bob enrolled at Colombia University and began a career in journalism as a writer for McGraw-Hill. He began attending Quaker Meeting in the Boston area, where he met Patricia Perry. Having given much thought to Quaker non-violence, Bob received the status of conscientious objector in the Korean War, and served two years of alternative service on the Violent Ward at a Connecticut State Hospital.

Bob and Patricia married in a Quaker Ceremony in 1952 and eventually had five children (including identical twins). Bob taught himself how to make pottery on the potter’s wheel. This lead to graduate school in California, where he devoted himself to the study of art, art history, ceramics, and basic design. This foundation prepared him for the 40 years ahead as an art professor at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA and subsequently as head of the art department at Gainesville College in GA. As Bob began teaching college art courses at Agnes Scott, he and Patricia developed a private pottery studio at their home in Decatur as well as devoting considerable energy to founding a Quaker Meeting in Atlanta, GA.

In 1980, after 24 years teaching at Agnes Scott College, Bob retired to their cabin and lakeside pottery studio on Lake Lanier in Gainesville where he and Patricia anticipated potting and writing quietly. However an opportunity arose to head the Art Department at Gainesville College in 1983 where he devoted another 14 years of his energy.

Always challenged by an architectural problem, when Bob and Patricia moved from their Lake property to Lanier Village Estates retirement community in 2001, Bob undertook to design a building for Unity Church of Gainesville and oversee its construction.

Robert Westervelt was a cherished father, husband and friend, who humbly shared his deep wisdom, intellect, humor, and amazing vocabulary with others. Many people looked up to him, and not just because he was 6’4”! He truly cared about relationships.

Bob was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Perry Westervelt in 2016. He is survived by their five children: Deva Kaur Khalsa, Sarah Westervelt, Clayton Westervelt, Janet Westervelt, and Leslie Medlin; along with 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.