Robert L. Whitney

Worcester – Robert L. Whitney, 92, died peacefully on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Hope Health Hulitar Hospice Center, Providence, RI. He was born in Medford, MA - the son of Alfred and Margaret (Lewis) Whitney and lived in several places in his younger years including Connecticut, Texas and Australia.

Robert spent his sophomore year in 1945 attending the Canberra High School in Australia where he excelled at Australian Rules Football. Robert graduated from Phillips Academy – Andover in 1948 and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Math from Oberlin College. He met the love of his life, Susan Evans, over a game of checkers while attending Oberlin and the couple later married and shared 64 years together. Robert went on to earn a Master’s degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Michigan. Robert worked as an Actuary for Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York (MONY) for many years and later retired from Primerica Financial Services – part of the Citigroup corporation.

Robert was an avid hiker - he hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine using the trail name “Motel Man” because he often slept in a motel to avoid spending a night on the trail. He has hiked to the highest peaks in approximately 45 of the United States and many countries. Robert was an avid traveler who loved traveling with family and friends. He visited almost all of the National Parks in the United States and loved the Grand Canyon – having hiked to the bottom approximately 10 times and rim to rim twice – as well as rafting down the Colorado river. Robert visited every continent and the Island of Greenland. Robert was a gifted tennis player – having played in and won many of the Labor Day weekend tournaments in Princeton, MA.

Robert was an active member of several Unitarian Universalist churches during his life – starting with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockland County, NY and most recently the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester. He served as Treasurer for the Church and on the Church Investment Committee.
Robert was predeceased by his beloved wife, Susan (Evans) Whitney in 2017. He is survived by his sons, Steven Whitney of Warwick, RI, Bruce Whitney of Putney, VT and Ken Whitney of Lancaster, PA; his daughter, Joan Whitney of Silver Spring, MD; his sister, Liz Strong of Cedar Park, TX; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was also predeceased by his sister, Janet Patton of Georgetown KY.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service honoring and celebrating Robert’s life at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester 90 Holden St., Worcester, MA 01606. Interment will precede the Memorial Service at 11 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery, Connor Lane, Princeton. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Appalachian Trail Conservancy, www.appalachiantrail.org Arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden.