Robert "Bob" Willard Paynter

Robert “Bob” Willard Paynter of Northampton died on April 30, 2023, after a long illness. He was born on September 22, 1949, in Chester, PA to Marjorie McDowell and Robert Charles Paynter. He took joy in being an equinox baby his whole life. He grew up playing sports, reading history and fiction, and having a good time with his brothers Rick and Dave, cousin Babs, and a large collection of friends. Bob had a curious spirit and thrived on days full of learning and exploration. Books took him around the world and through time, from lefty political magazines, to dense intellectual histories, to imaginary worlds among the stars. The woods and mountains of New England brought adventures in all seasons on foot, bicycle and xc skis. Jazz music and his trumpet were the soundtrack of every journey. And chance encounters with strangers were an opportunity to make new friends, hear new perspectives and learn something fascinating. Few subjects fell outside his interest, and his conversations rambled as freely as he did, to the occasional distraction of his loving family. A lifelong educator, Bob was passionate and generous in sharing what he knew. Bob taught in the anthropology departments at Queens College (1978-1981) and at UMass - Amherst (1981-2015) where he was also a committed union member and officer. He was proud of UMass’s role as a public university serving the people of the Commonwealth. However, teaching was not confined to classrooms for Bob. It was something that happened on little league diamonds, waiting in line at the farmers market, covered in dirt at a dig site, and in everyday interactions with friends, family, and strangers. Mostly, Bob asked questions. As a young man he questioned the Vietnam War and continued to do so whenever the country moved towards war. Throughout his life he questioned (and occasionally railed against) the roots of injustice and inequality in our society. And he questioned what had shaped the world we know, and how we might build a better one. He became an anthropologist and a teacher in part to answer his own questions, but also because he saw them as paths towards building a more just and kind world. His work at the W.E.B Du Bois homesite in Great Barrington, Historic Deerfield, and in making the University more responsible to the indigenous people of the region, brought him pride and a wide network of friends and colleagues that he delighted in. For us, he was a warm husband, father, and brother who was part of building a loving home. He is survived by his wife, Linda Morley, son, Braden Paynter, brothers Richard, David, and Manuel (of his chosen Barcelona family), near-sister Barbara, and a far-flung network of other cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, colleagues, and graduate students. A memorial service will be held in the coming months. In the interim, condolences may be sent directly to the family or by visiting www.DROZDALFUNERALHOME.com. To honor Bob, please read something new, stand up for someone in trouble or make donations to the Du Bois Freedom Center in Great Barrington (www.duboisfreedomcenter.org).

Robert "Bob" Willard Paynter

September 22, 1949 - April 30, 2023