CAMPTON----Robert Dudley Bulkeley, a man known by multiple names (Bob, Bubbles, Poppy, Dad, Mr. Bulkeley), passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025. A little over a month after he was diagnosed with an advanced abdominal cancer, he transferred to home hospice and spent his final weeks in comfort at home, visiting with friends and family.
Bob was born in West Hartford, CT, in 1942. He graduated from Kingswood Oxford School, received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, and his master's degree from Columbia University. He was a lifelong educator and a voracious reader. Bob had a 32-year teaching career, beginning at Noble & Greenough, in Dedham, MA, before moving to Baltimore, MD, in 1973. There, he taught English and coached ice hockey and rugby at Gilman School until his retirement. He was actively involved in AA while living in Baltimore, after getting sober in 1981. His legacy there involved inspiring students with lessons about life from literature, establishing drug and alcohol education programs, and helping countless families navigate crises.
Bob and his wife of 54 years, Louise Bulkeley, better known as Ouisie, raised three children in Baltimore before he retired and they moved to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire in 2000 to live a simple life in the mountains and be near the summer camps where they met.
Camp Pasquaney, a summer camp for boys, was a centering thread in Bob’s life. Over 66 summers, he was first a camper and then a counsellor and director of the waterfront, where his voice could be heard booming across the lake. At camp, Bob was known for his deep value of community, his industrious spirit, his innate belief in the potential of young people, and his prolific storytelling. Anyone who knew Bob well would know that the spirit of Pasquaney and the life of Bob Bulkeley have always been intricately woven.
During his retirement, Bob stayed active by spending time with his children and grandchildren, traveling the world with Ouisie, continuing his involvement with camp, and making a difference in his local community. He believed in a deep connection with the land and served on the Board of Trustees for the Quincy Bog Natural Area and Pemi-Baker Land Trust. For many years, he remained an active member of the Yale Alumni Association. In his in-between time, he got involved in local and presidential elections for the Democratic Party, continued skiing, hiking, trail work, reading literature and history books, and constantly watched the Red Sox, Bruins, and Patriots on TV. He also enjoyed cooking for his family and, thankfully, became a decent cook over the years.
His surviving family includes his wife, Louise; three children, Tracy, Brooke, and Leigh; his sons-in-law Erik and Mark; and four grandchildren, Greta, Veronica, William, and Zeke. He is predeceased by his father, Richard, mother, Virginia, and brother, Richard. He will be missed immensely by his family and friends. A memorial service will be held later this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bubbles’ / Bob’s name to Pasquaney https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/37537/donations/new or the New Hampshire Land Trust Alliance https://landtrustalliance.org/land-trusts/gaining-ground/new-hampshire.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.