Robert Beauclerk Colburn

Robert Beauclerk Colburn of Old Lyme passed away following a brief illness on December 22, 2023, surrounded by his three loving children, Beau, Missy, and Katie. He was a lot of things to a lot of people: husband, father, “Pops” to his three adoring grandchildren, and friend and mentor to countless others. His stoic strength was the backbone of the Colburn family, and his kindness, humor, and love will long be remembered by all who knew him.

Born July 5, 1940, Bob grew up outside of Boston with his father George, his mother Ruth, and his two older sisters, Linda and Betsy. At 10 years-old, Bob was stricken with polio and told he would never walk again. Never one to give up, Bob along with the never-say-never approach of his two parents—and helped by some highly experimental pediatric surgeons—was not only walking by the time he was a teenager, but went on to become a successful college athlete and lifetime sportsman, playing hockey, tennis, cycling and skiing.

After attending Brown University, Bob went on to teach American Literature at the Hackley School in New York, before ending up at Sports Illustrated in the mid-60s. While there, he met his future wife Barbara (“BJ”), who he was later married to for over 50 years before her passing just two months ago. Sports Illustrated found Bob traveling the world, covering Olympic Games, and World Series match-ups. It also started a lifetime career in sports.

After marrying BJ in 1973, they moved to Connecticut where Bob ran the Olin Ski company for many years. Connecticut became their home very quickly, as they quickly settled in Old Lyme, where they lived for over 40 years, while raising their three children.

Bob’s career remained in sports for his whole life, with long stints in the hockey and lacrosse industries with Nike, Bauer, and Combat. Bob’s reputation within the sporting goods industry was legendary, with decades and decades of friendships and mentorships created. He cherished all of them, and stayed in touch with close friends from every era of his career until the very end.

Ultimately, what Bob cared the most about was his family, putting their needs in front of his own time and time again. He had deep bonds, love, and affection for his daughter-in-law Calleen, and his son-in-law Pete, both of whom he knew since they were children. The pride he had in watching his own three children grow up was only eclipsed by the joy he found in his three grandchildren, Max, Hawke, and Hopper. After a career filled with lofty titles, there was none he liked more than being “Pops”.

Bob loved to make people laugh, and got a kick out of everyone’s smiles. He loved his wife of five decades, and the family that they raised together. He loved to travel, and to visit restaurants all over the the world, but most of all he loved to sit at home with his family gathered around, and maybe have a cigar outside on a nice day. Bob’s life touched a lot of people very deeply, and his massive loss will be felt by many.

There will be a memorial service on January 20th at 1PM at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. Details for reception to follow.

The family asks to consider a donation to the Red Sox Foundation in Bob’s memory: https://www.redsoxfoundation.org/donate/