Robert William Hawksley

Robert William Hawksley May 9, 1935 – July 29, 2021 Robert William Hawksley, 86, passed away on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at the Hospice of the Piedmont, in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and daughters by his side, after a long, courageous battle with multiple myeloma. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Lois (Hopkins) Hawksley; two daughters, Dianne Hawksley-Lescault (Maurice “Moe” Lescault) and Linda (Hawksley) Baez (Alejandro “Hoot” Baez); and two grandchildren, Jacob Hawksley Lescault and Sarah Elizabeth Lescault. Bob and Lois had been living with family in Earlysville, Virginia since 2014 in order to be close to their grandchildren. However, Bob’s heart and soul always remained in his home state of Rhode Island. He was born in the Ocean State in 1935 to the late Harry Wilbur Hawksley and Marion Swanton Hawksley. Bob always was quick to tell a story of the joys of his childhood and the close neighbors and friends that surrounded the family in Cranston and Exeter. He frequently expressed in those stories the immense respect and admiration he held for his father who, among other achievements, served as a State Senator in Rhode Island. Bob’s youth was not without heartbreak as he lost his mother as a teenager. So, he was eternally grateful for the love and support provided by his stepmother, the late Helen Gertrude (Cottrell) Hawksley. Bob was also extremely proud of his late brother, H. Ronald Hawksley, who served for many years as a leader in the South Kingstown Police Department, ultimately achieving the rank of Captain. It was during his youth in South County that Bob began a lifelong love of dairy cattle. Throughout his life, Bob would regale family and friends with amusing anecdotes of the many lessons he learned from working at legendary Rhode Island farms, like the Lippett Estate, in his younger years. Following his graduation from North Kingstown High School, Bob studied agriculture for two years at the University of Rhode Island where he also ran on the track team. His interest in the breeding and showing of Ayrshire and Holstein cattle led to a lifetime affiliation with those breeds. Bob’s expertise made him a sought after judge for cattle shows throughout New York and New England. He also served as a ringmaster at national cattle sales in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and Minnesota and was a member of the Rhode Island and New England Ayrshire Associations and the New England and National Holstein Associations. Bob’s reputation throughout New England and beyond for his exceptional knowledge of cattle pedigrees and husbandry is legendary. After marrying in 1960, Bob and his wife, Lois, moved back to her family farm in Chepachet, Rhode Island, where they lived for 54 years. Bob’s love for the land connected him at an emotional level with Chestnut Hill and his beloved “Meadow Edge Farm.” Among the greatest pleasures in his life were the hours he spent caring for his dairy cattle in the barn or maintaining the land on his John Deere tractor. But, his responsibilities to his family, which Bob always placed first, led him to a career as an automobile salesman. Bob never met a stranger and his ability to quickly establish a connection with his customers combined with an unwavering dedication to providing them exceptional service, won him numerous regional and national sales awards during his 38 years with both Volkswagen and Nissan dealerships. Bob is probably best remembered by the myriad customers he cared for at Knights Garage Nissan, from where he ultimately retired in 1997. Throughout his life, Bob always had a strong commitment to serving his country and community. He served in the Rhode Island National Guard for 8 years and was Chairman of the Town of Glocester Zoning Board. Following his retirement from his auto sales career, Bob led the Glocester Land Trust as a volunteer for 15 years. He received the Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition for his outstanding seven-year tenure as Chairman for the Trust. Bob’s understanding of the land, strategic vision, and passion for preservation, combined with tireless perseverance and unparalleled negotiating skills, enabled him to visualize, map out, and successfully create the Glocester Greenway which will help to preserve Glocester’s natural beauty for future generations to enjoy. Among the many properties he successfully placed into conservation, Bob was particularly proud of the grant for the Steere Farm in Harmony, Rhode Island. A key connection to the community for which Bob was most thankful was his membership in the Masonic Friendship Lodge No. 7, F. & A.M. in Chepachet, Rhode Island. Bob proudly received his 50-year pin from the Lodge in 2017. Ultimately, though, Bob’s life was defined by the dedication and love he had for his family. Bob’s 61 years of marriage to his love, Lois, is a rare achievement these days and is a testament to the priority he placed on family, no matter the ups and downs that life brought their way. Bob’s pride and joy throughout his life was especially in his daughters, Dianne and Linda. Their achievements and happiness meant more to him than anything he himself accomplished. Bob’s joy in fatherhood was only rivaled when he became a grandfather to Jacob and Sarah. Among his happiest moments in his later years were times attending graduations and celebrating achievements that have led both of his grandchildren to successful lives and careers. It is particularly in the hearts of his family, to which Bob dedicated his life, that Bob’s memory will remain a timeless source of love, strength, and happiness. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. John Densmore and his staff at the Emily Couric Cancer Center for their extraordinary and compassionate care during Bob’s battle with myeloma. To honor Bob’s wishes, there will be no public memorial service. A private burial will take place in Rhode Island at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family through the Teague Funeral Home website at www.teaguefuneralhome.com. Memorial donations may be made in honor of Robert W. Hawksley to the Emily Couric Cancer Center, 1240 Lee Street, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0817, or to a charity of your choice.