Robert Heysham Sayre IV, Little Compton

Posted 1/16/18

Robert Heysham Sayre IV died on Sunday, January 7, 2018, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was 91 years old. Born in Baltimore, Md., on March 6, 1926, he was the son of Robert H. and Marie (Riggs) …

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Robert Heysham Sayre IV, Little Compton

Posted

Robert Heysham Sayre IV died on Sunday, January 7, 2018, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was 91 years old. Born in Baltimore, Md., on March 6, 1926, he was the son of Robert H. and Marie (Riggs) Sayre, III.

In Baltimore he attended the Calvert and Gilman Schools. In 1939, the family moved to Leighton Farm in the countryside of Harford County, Md. Robert attended the Pomfret School, Pomfret, Conn., class of ‘44. He was captain of the football team. Summers were spent on Fisher’s Island, NY.

After graduation, he entered the Marine Corps, serving on the USS Chicago in the Pacific, joining the fleet for the invasion of Japan. After the war, Robert attended Yale University, class of ‘50. He was a member of the lacrosse team and, in 1950, sailed on the MV Georgic to play in England. Several summers were spent with friends on Nantucket during that time.

Early in the 1950’s, he visited St Thomas, USVI and was persuaded by friends to move there, joining them in a painting business. There he met Nancy (Grinnell) Underwood whom he married in December, 1958. In 1960, they bought a farm in Harford County, Md., moving there to raise black angus cattle and horses among other creatures.

In 1974, Robert moved to Westport Point where his family had a summer home. In May, 1988, he married Susan (Eddleston) Machado. They moved to Little Compton and built a home in 1991.

He loved tools and carpentry, birds and plants, music and collecting books and records.

Robert is survived by his sister, Harriet Noyes of Bloomfield, Conn.; his brother, Lawrason R. Sayre of Churchville, Md.; and his son, Robert H. Sayre V of Westport. He played a large role in the lives of his stepchildren: Beth Underwood of Mattapoisett, Mass., Peter Underwood (deceased), Michael Underwood of Marion, Mass., and Adam Machado of San Francisco, Calif.

Known as Bobby, Bob, Bonzo, Bear and Bubba, he was loved by and will be missed by many. A private memorial is being planned for the spring.

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