Skip Tallman

Robert F. “Skip” Tallman III, age 80, of New Bedford, MA, formerly of Fall River, MA and Westport, MA, passed away on July 28, 2025. He was the husband of the late Susan J. (Grandfield) Tallman for 45 years until her passing in 2014, and the fiancé of Kathleen B. Smith of New Bedford.

Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Robert F. Tallman, II and Germaine (Senechal) Tallman.

At an early age, Robert was given the nickname “Skipper” in reference to his father’s service as a PT Boat Captain in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Growing up on the edge of the Watuppa Reservation in the Flint neighborhood of Fall River, Skip enjoyed outdoor activities. He could often be found playing basketball under a streetlight on Norwood Street, playing baseball at Lafayette Park, or fishing in the Watuppa Pond. He also cherished his family vacations to his father’s hometown of Lancaster, MO.

A 1963 graduate of Coyle Cassidy High School, Skip played four years of varsity basketball and three years of varsity baseball. He opted to not play baseball as a freshman to pursue the Babe Ruth League City Championship which his team ultimately won. During his playing days at Coyle Cassidy, he was proudly referred to as Skip “of this city” Tallman by the Fall River Herald News. After high school Skip went on to serve his country in the United States National Guard during the Vietnam War. Skip had many jobs throughout his career (sometimes three at a time) before settling in as a campus police officer at Corrigan Mental Health Center where he worked for 35 years before retiring as Chief of Campus Police in 2010.

Skip's love of sports stayed with him his entire life. As a young adult, he enjoyed playing softball for Billy’s Cafe at Father Kelly Park and basketball for the Corky Row Club at the CYO Hall. As his children began playing youth sports he transitioned to coaching, enthusiastically embracing the role. He coached North Park Little League baseball and CYO basketball. Skip was also a former member of the Fall River Country Club where he served on the Executive Board for many years and held the positions of Tournament Committee Chairman and Handicap Chairman. A lifelong Yankees fan stemming from his admiration of Mickey Mantle as a young child, he organized many trips to Yankee Stadium to watch games including a famous trip to Game 6 of the 1996 World Series.

Skip also never lost his love of the outdoors. He cherished the many family vacations camping on Sebago Lake in Maine, family time spent at his sister's cottage on the Watuppa Pond, and trips to Lake George and Saratoga Springs, NY.

Skip is survived by his fiancé Kathy, his children, Kristin T. Lane and her husband Douglas of Scituate, MA and Jeffrey P. Tallman and his wife Kerri Beth of Somerset, his grandchildren, Owen Patrick Tallman, Sadie Miller Tallman, and Samuel Robert Lane; his sister Frances Megna and her husband Roland of Fall River, his nephew, Scott Megna and wife Pam of Fall River; and his great-nephew, Hunter Megna.

His funeral will be held Monday, August 4, 2025, at 10:00am in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter Street, Fall River. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 3, 2025, from 4:00-6:00pm. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Skip’s name can be made to Forever Paws, 300 Lynwood Street, Fall River, MA 02721.