It is with a mix of sadness and profound gratitude that we report the passing of Robert Walker “Bobby” Groves, III ’67 P’95. Bobby passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia on August 14th, with his wife Anne at his side and surrounded by his loving family.
Blue Ridge School has had no greater champion than Bobby Groves.
Since his graduation 57 years ago, Bobby has been a stalwart and generous leader at the highest levels of our School family and a sterling example for us all. His record of service is unparalleled, with 19 years of service to the Board of Trustees across three decades – many of them as a member of the Executive Committee, serving as Chair of the External Affairs Committee as well as Chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Along the way, Bobby was also a winner of both the Henry Morschheimer, Jr. and Anthony T. Noel awards for service and loyalty to the School. Of note, Bobby is one of only three graduates to have received both honors.
Perhaps most poignant, Bobby and Anne were particularly proud that their son William S. R. “Billy” Groves ’95 was the first son of an alumnus to attend the modern Blue Ridge School. The Groves’ nephews, 威廉J. “Johnson” Stevens, III ’03, and Robert Walker G. “Rob” Stevens ’06, followed in this tradition as well, further distinguishing the family’s connection to Blue Ridge.
A decade ago, Blue Ridge proudly created the Groves Family Legacy Scholarship in celebration of this growing tradition. This scholarship program provides a significant financial aid award exclusively for siblings, sons and grandsons of our alumni and current students and is available each and every year.
Quite simply, it is not hyperbolic to say that Blue Ridge School would not be the leading institution it has become without the caring, 明智的, no-nonsense devotion of Bobby Groves.
A graveside service will be held in Savannah on Monday, August 19th. More details about Bobby, his family, and the service can be found here:
http://foxandweeks.com/obituaries/o/10485/Robert-Walker-Groves,-III
Please contact Associate Head of School Franklin Daniels P’23 if you have questions of any kind.
From all of us in this grateful community, “Thank you, Bobby.”
