CHAUTAUQUA- Robert “Bob” M. McClure, 90, of Chautauqua, NY and formerly of San Diego, CA and Washington, DC, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024. He was the son of the late Esther Sloan McClure Pettit and the late Robert Joe (Dick) McClure. Bob's life was one of passion, dedication, and love for his family, friends, and the communities he served. His legacy lives on in the memories of those who knew him and in the many lives he touched through his work and generosity. Born in Oklahoma City in 1934, Bob moved with his mother to San Diego, California. For a few years in those days, public school was held in houses on a cul-de-sac street. The street served as the playground, recess was in the backyard of each class’s house. They had a kitchen where they kept their lunches, a living room where the whole class met, and bedrooms for small groups and individual work. It was a great safe place for learning. These early experiences with public school shaped Bob's vision and passion, a concept he continued to work on throughout his professional life. By fourth grade, construction of a new public school building was complete, and Bob moved with his classmates to Kit Carson School in San Diego. Mr. DeLanois was Bob's 6th-grade teacher, and Bob credited him with sparking his interest in theater. A few years ago, Bob drove by Kit Carson and saw a sign announcing the school’s fiftieth anniversary, and he loved joking that his name was featured on the sign as the most famous alumnus. (Then he’d smile and say, “Just kidding about that part.”) Roosevelt Jr. High came next, sharing a fence with the San Diego Zoo where Bob could look out the window and see camels and elephants. Mr. French, the drama teacher there, further influenced his love for theater. He spent one year at San Diego High and had a great experience with Latin and drama under Miss Bellingham, who was quite glamorous and longed for a career on the stage. On his own at such an early age, during this time, he lived with a good friend, Ronnie Heassler, and his family in the hills above Del Mar. Life changed markedly when Bob’s mom moved to Los Angeles, and he attended Washington High School. There, Mrs. Stanley was the drama teacher (see a trend here?), and she was important to his life, as were a couple of students who became life-long friends. Then came the University of Southern California, where Bob met Sally, his future wife and mother to their four children. With his new diploma, he became a teacher and taught fifth grade at Santa Barbara Avenue Elementary School, just a few blocks away from the university. Later, Bob and Sally moved to La Habra, a distant LA suburb, and he took a teaching job at the Lowell Joint School District. A few years later, an opportunity came for Bob to go to UCLA for graduate work and to teach at the university's school for elementary-age students. They moved from La Habra to Woodland Hills to be nearer to the university and to start their growing family. In Woodland Hills, they had a SWIMMING POOL, and it was glorious because the weather in the San Fernando Valley is dry and warm, and the kids loved to splash in it and hold court with the other young families in the neighborhood. Next, Bob took a job in Washington, D.C. with The National Education Association. A few years later, when it became clear they weren't going back to California, they moved into a house on Tennyson St. They stayed there long enough for their children to grow up, attend Lafayette Elementary School, The Field School, Alice Deal Junior High, and Woodrow Wilson High School, make lots of friends, go away to college, get their adult lives going, and move away. Bob liked to say “Well, noticing that the children had all left, Sally and I sold the house and moved to Chautauqua, where we lived happily ever after.” Bob (Bops) had been introduced to the Chautauqua Institution in 1990 by friends when he was invited to be a keynote speaker on the topic of School Change and Teacher Empowerment. In Chautauqua, Sally (Yaya) became the belle of the knitters and the bird, tree, and garden enthusiasts. Bob was the sewer honcho (actually, a Chautauqua Utility District Commissioner, but Yaya focused on the sewer part). He also led the Chautauqua Winter Play Readers, bringing his story full circle back to 6th grade and a teacher who started him on a lifelong passion. Bob’s professional achievements were equally notable. He was a member of the Westfield Hospital Foundation Board, past Commissioner for the Chautauqua Utility District, past President and Vice President of the Friends of Chautauqua Theater Company, avid supporter of the Chautauqua Play Readers, now known as the Bob McClure Chautauqua Play Readers, member of Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC, c. 1878) class of 2001, and enthusiastic participant in the Children’s Playwright Initiative. He was a supporter of the Chautauqua Symphony and enjoyed theater, dance, culture, politics, traveling, fine dining, and the Shaw Festival at Niagara on the Lake. Most of all, he chose every day to spend time with friends and family, all the while accompanied by a hilarious parade of pet dogs of all size and character, most recently his beloved white poodle Chuck. Bob is survived by three children Brian (Dr. Mari Lee Mifsud) McClure of Richmond, VA, Margie McClure of Catonsville, MD, and Judy (Amy Sallen) McClure of Boston, MA, seven grandchildren, Caitlyn (Kelly Mears) McClure, Rachel (Sam Thresher) McClure, Cally Higgins McClure, Benjamin Carlson, Maya (Jesse Crofton) Carlson, Luke Benefield, and Melanie Benefield, and their larger family circle Dede McClure, Randy Benefield, Miriam Higgins, Kent Carlson (2024), Peggy Perry and her children David, Bruce, Diane and Steve. Bob created a tremendously large and varied world of loving friends, partners, and extended families all dear to the McClures. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife Sally Pryor McClure, daughter Katy McClure Benefield, and grandson Jack Robert McClure. At Bob’s request no public services will be observed. A Celebration of Life is being planned for Spring 2025 and will be announced.