Dr. Robert S. Sharples, 83, of Dartmouth died Wednesday January 9, 2013 at home after a long illness. He was the husband of the late Rosaline M. (Santos) Sharples and the late Dr. Maureen FitzGerald Sharples.
Born in New Bedford, he was the son of the late Ruby and William Sharples.
A graduate of Bridgewater State College and Nova University, Dr. Sharples served as Director of the Graduate Educational Leadership Academic Program at Bridgewater State College until his retirement in 1991. The program trained students in educational leadership and awarded them a Masters Degree, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, or a Doctorate of Education. He also served as the Northeast United States Coordinator for a Doctoral program for Nova University that prepared doctoral students in the administration of higher education. He also had previously taught in the New Bedford and East Bridgewater Public Schools Systems.
An exceptional athlete in his younger days, he played football for New Bedford High School and was an outstanding baseball player who, at the age of 14, played in the adult evening league and was pursued by the St. Louis Browns professional baseball team.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in Okinawa and Korea.
An avid pilot, yachtsman, and golfer, he held memberships in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the New Bedford Yacht Club, the Hawthorne Country Club, the Allendale Country Club, and the Country Club of New Bedford. He was the founder of the Association of Professional Administrators of the nine State Colleges and served as its president for many years.
He is survived by several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Ruby Govoni, Doris Francis, Audrey Horton, Harold, Brydson, Russell, Everett, and Norman Sharples.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 9 AM at St. Mary's Church. South Dartmouth. Burial in St. John's Cemetery will be private. Visiting hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Community Nurse and Hospice Care, P.O. Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.