Roberta "Bobbie" Paine
September 23, 2008
ROCKPORT — Roberta "Bobbie" Paine, 82, of Rockport, formerly of New
York, died on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at the Addison Gilbert Hospital.
Born in Los Angeles on Oct. 2, 1925, she was the daughter of the late
Edward H. and Josephine (Speakman) Paine.
She grew up Larchmont, N.Y. and Hartford, Conn.. Bobbie was a
graduate of Principia Junior College, Illinois, Class of 1945 and later
earned degrees from Barnard College, New York and Bryn Mawr College,
Pennsylvania.
For many years, Bobbie was the curator for the Junior Museum for
Children, a division of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, until her
retirement in 1990. Bobbie had authored two books, "Looking at
Sculpture" and "Looking at Architecture." She had also served in the
Paintings Department at the New York Historical Society.
Bobbie spent most of her summers in Rockport until she made her
residence there permanent after retiring. She was a long time member of
the Rockport Art Association where she initially served on the Museum
Committee and was their Curator for several years and was instrumental
in cataloging the collection, acquiring new pieces, putting exhibitions
together and helping to curate a cross-country tour of pieces for their
collection to other museums. She was an active member of their Annual
Auction Committee for l5 years (their major fund-raising initiative of
the year) and helped it grow with great success. She was recently
serving on the Museum Committee as Co-Curator, putting together another
traveling exhibition, a retrospective exhibition of Marguerite Pearson's
work, and cataloging their holdings.
Bobbie was also a member of the Sandy Bay Yacht Club for 50 years.
She was a Turnabout Sailor, winning several races including the Bobbette
Simpson and later joined the Bullseye fleet. She had worked on the Race
Committee and was invaluable to the Club in keeping scores, managing the
club trophies and officiated on the Race Committee Boat, which she
continued to do up to this past July 4th.
She had served on the Rockport Historical Commission and was a past
Treasurer of the Rockport Garden Club and had served on the Board for
many years.
She is survived by her cousins, Anita Paine Vance of Newton, Margaret
Hasselman of Blacksburg, Va., Frank Paine of Stamford, Conn., and
Francis Conant of New York.
ARRANGEMENTS: At her request, there are no funeral services.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Rockport Art
Association, 12 Main St., Rockport, MA 01966 or to the Sandy Bay Yacht
Club, Dock Square, Rockport, MA 01966. Arrangements by the Burgess &
Mackey Funeral Home, 201 Main St., Rockport.
