Obituary of Robert Fyfe Stephens

Robert Fyfe Stephens, 89, of Peabody, MA and formerly of Marblehead, MA died peacefully Sunday, November 24, 2013 at his residence with his family by his side. He was the devoted husband of Dorothy (Lawrence) Stephens. He was born and raised in Michigan, the son of the late John H. and Marjorie (Wells) Stephens and in 1942 entered the US Army during WW II, serving four years until his discharge in 1946. He attended RutgersUniversity, where he studied Pre-Medicine; received his BA from Washington and LeeUniversity and his MA and PhD from the University of Michigan in Political Science. Robert started working with the US State Department, Washington D.C., as a Foreign Affairs Officer in 1953. He served as Vice Consul and Cultural Affairs Officer in Nairobi, Kenya, and later as chief of the Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Bureau of Cultural Affairs. In 1964 he became Associate Director of the East African Studies program at the MaxwellSchool, SyracuseUniversity, and in 1969 the Assistant Director of the International Development Studies Program with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at TuftsUniversity. He became president of the Potomac Research Institute in Washington, DC in 1978 and in 1994 began working as a Development Associate with the School of Education at BostonUniversity. He devoted his life to International Education in Africa and Indonesia. His upcoming book, “The Kenyan Student Airlifts to America: An Educational Odyssey 1959 – 1961, will be released in mid December, 2013, by East African Educational Publishers. Proceeds will go to the Kelly Elizabeth Stephens Endowment Scholarship Fund at Boston University School of Education. Robert enjoyed sailing, tennis, squash, painting, listening to classical music, traveling, and attending family gatherings. For many years he owned and operated the Antilles Yachting Services in St. Thomas, USVirgin Islands. He also sailed on Lake Michigan, LakeOntario, Chesapeake Bay, and in the waters around Marblehead. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, a son and daughter-in-law, Robert F. Jr. and Gail Stephens of Mattapoisett, MA; a daughter and son-in-law, Laurie Stephens and Douglas Ward of Hood River, Oregon; his six grandchildren, Kerry Martin (married to Brad Martin); Robert Tate (married to Marie Tate); Grace and Marina Stephens; and Ryan and Casey Ward; 8 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Cathleen Stephens-Ellis of Virginia and Kelly Stephens of Indonesia, and brother of the late John W. Stephens. A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in his memory to the Kelly Elizabeth Stephens Endowment Scholarship Fund, Boston University School of Education, Two Silber Way, Boston, MA 02215.