The obituary for Robert Elliot Kaufmann, 62, of 132 Water St., outlined an amazing career: Williams College “Big Man on the campus,†teacher and coach, Peace Corps, Wall Street whiz, Williams development official and finally Water Street businessman and restaurateur.
Add his stellar role as center on the Ephs’ football team, ski instructor and patrolman, hunter and fisherman, and scuba diver and instructor and it shows a man of many talents and interests.
Then there were community and environmental concerns and his strong family relationships, particularly his love for his three children and two grandchildren.
But facts and listings, while impressive, do not tell the entire story.
The real Bob Kaufmann was revealed at a memorial service Aug. 18 at the First Congregational Church and at a reception at Stetson Hall.
Some 400 persons heard remembrances from family members and such diverse persons as Williamstown Tree Warden Robert McCarthy and Dr. Benjamin Glick, Berkshire medical examiner, at the church.
The tales continued at the reception and they revealed one common thread: Bob Kaufmann loved people and he loved helping them, from the homeless who were welcome to spend the night in his Water Works Laundry and Dry Cleaning establishment to hungry Appalachian Trail hikers he fed at his apartment directly above the laundromat.
“He touched my heart and changed my life,†exclaimed one former employee of the River House Restaurant he founded some 20 years ago, now the Water Street Grill.
He hired handicapped and disadvantaged persons whenever possible and taught swimming and scuba diving to the blind and crippled, as well as to students at Williams and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams.
He was particularly concerned about Vietnam War veterans and injured persons, as well as his environment.
As a member of the Williamstown Search and Rescue Team, he was well trained in first aid and was often the first to treat accident victims, when others were fearful of getting involved. One person died in his arms, according to his second wife, the former Susan Pedersen. His first wife, Sandra Jean Kaufmann, lives on Cape Cod, and was the mother of son Jeffrey of New York City, and daughter, Andrea Sarah Kaufmann of Framingham, who is now operating the Water Works.
Susan Kaufmann, who was separated from her husband, still lives in Williamstown, and is the mother of Katharine, who lived with her father.
Jeff and Andrea both attended Williamstown schools, although Jeff also attended Holderness Academy and was graduated from Williams in 1989. Andrea was graduated from Boston College with a degree in advertising and marketing. Katharine, 15, attended Williamstown schools and is presently enrolled at Mount Hermon School.
The three children skied, hiked and scuba dived with their father.
Joining in many of the adventures were brother William, who still lives in Bob’s hometown of New Rochelle, N.Y., and is president and CEO of a nonprofit development corporation in Hartford, Conn., and his wife Karen Lossing Kaufmann. Both spoke at the memorial service.
Bill Kaufmann was graduated from Williams in 1958, two years before his brother. Among numerous members of the Class of 1960 at the memorial were Francis T. Vincent Jr., former major league baseball commissioner; and James R. Briggs, former director of the Williams Outing Club and former baseball coach.
“It was an overwhelming outpouring of affection for Bob and we are preparing a booklet including the remarks and tributes,†said the older brother.
When the two brothers were at Williams, their parents bought a 75-acre farm in nearby Whitingham, Vt., and it became a base of skiing at Mount Snow and at the former Dutch Hill Ski Area. The farm, which is not worked, remains in the family.
Bob’s three children also skied at Jiminy and Brodie, where Bob either taught or patrolled, as he did at Mount Snow.
Another common activity for the two brothers and their children was attending North Country Camps in Keesville, N.Y., on the shore of Lake Champlain and at the edge of the Adirondacks. “We had climbed many of the Adirondack’s peaks over 4,000 feet high and had a goal of climbing all 46 together,†said Andrea.
Memorial contributions are suggested for the camp, in care of The Chief’s Campership, 16 Prospect St., Mount Kisco, NY, 10549.
Andrea, in fact, had been preparing to take a training hike with her father, but he had died only a few minutes before her arrival, sitting in a chair after a telephone call from Susan, discussing Katharine’s dormitory selection at Mount Hermon.
I knew Bob fairly well as a football center in 1959 on a Len Watters’ coached team that went 2 and 6. I was the Williams sports information director at the time and Bob Kaufmann was a strapping six-foot, 200-pounder, ready to go all out. Team manager Fay Vincent gave me daily news flashes.
He was still a fit and active man and celebrated his 60th birthday with a family scuba diving trip to Micronesia, not too far from his Peace Corps assignment in Indonesia, decades earlier. He had sailed in many waters, often with Dr. Glick, and to is students he was called Bob the Fish.
But to hundreds of area residents and workers, he was remembered as a man who was always ready to help, instruct and encourage.
Unfortunately, although I was in the news business and living in Williamstown the past 40 years, I did not maintain a relationship with Bob Kaufmann, other than reading or writing about his various businesses. That’s a loss!
John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about our area sports scene.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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