John T. Robarts ’62 died on December 26, 2020, in Greenacres, Florida. 

(The following was published by The Marblehead Reporter on January 5, 2021)

John (Jack) Tremaine Robarts was born in Lynn, MA, on January 24, 1940. He passed away at age 80 on December 26 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body’s disease.  He grew up in Marblehead, MA, the son of Tremaine Robarts and Ruth (Sandstrom) Robarts.  He attended Marblehead High School where he was an outstanding student and athlete, playing football and baseball. After he moved to Florida he played adult softball in a league and became an avid golfer, earning two holes-in-one. He ran the Boston Marathon as a fundraiser for Bowdoin College where he did his undergraduate studies. His master’s degree was from Salem State University and his doctoral work was done at Boston University.  He also earned a CAGS from Bridgewater State College. Jack served as an officer in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam era and was stationed in Germany.  Mr. Robarts had a long career in education starting as a teacher of Latin and English in Gloucester, MA.  He also served as Director of Pupil Personnel Services in Gloucester, Watertown, Marblehead and Uxbridge in Massachusetts.  He was also acting superintendent of schools in Uxbridge, MA.  He was an adjunct professor at Salem State College and Nova University.  Mr. Robarts was a founding partner in R & K associates, a grant-writing firm in Massachusetts.  Mr. Robarts was an effective grant writer during his entire professional life.  His other career was selling and marketing hearing testing equipment, especially impedance screening devices.  After moving to Florida in 1998, Mr. Robarts and his wife, Emily Jacobs-Robarts, founded Dragonflight Associates, a consulting firm which provided advocacy information to senior citizens. They worked with Area Agency on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association and The Volen Center.  Mr. Robarts also served as chairman of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council.  He testified before the U.S. Congress and the Florida Legislature on issues affecting senior citizens. He served on the Greenacres Planning Commission for several years.  Jack was a truly honorable and kind man.  He was a good friend and a model citizen with a kind sense of humor and quick wit.  He is survived by his loving wife and partner of almost forty years, Emily Jacobs-Robarts (Starr) of Greenacres, FL; children Kent Robarts and his wife, Lisa, of Chesapeake, VA; Kristin Robarts and her husband, Dr. Michael Shevach, of Nakomis, FL; Lisa Robarts and her husband, Marc Thomas, of Chester, VT; James Jacobs of Haverhill, MA; Heidi Whatley and her husband, Anthony, of Stone Mountain, GA; and Beth Cabrera and her husband, Hector, of Beverly, MA.  Mr. Robarts is also survived by grandchildren Kelsey Robarts, Ryan Robarts, Kyle Robarts, Madison Thomas, Rileigh Thomas, Jacob Thomas, Zachary Cabrera, Isabella Cabrera, William Whatley, Matthew Jacobs and Patrick Jacobs.  He is also survived by his first wife, Nancy (Leigh) of Sarasota FL and his brother, Kent Robarts and his wife, Mary Jane, of Port Charlotte, FL.  Jack will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.