Robert Newell Elwell Jr. Obituary
Rob has gone on to tend a new garden. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on November 7th, just shy of his 82nd birthday. Everyone will miss his voice, his wry sense of humor and his caring heart. He died of pancreatitis after an eight-month bout with an ailing gall bladder.
Rob was born in Washington DC to Robert Newell and Mary Morrill Elwell during the war on November 24, 1942. Later the family moved to Marthas Vineyard where at Arrowhead Farm in North Tisbury, Rob could be found gathering arrowheads in the furrows behind his father's plow. When a one-room schoolhouse could no longer hold him with his 2 younger brothers coming along behind, the family moved to Wayland, MA.
Rob attended Belmont Hill School, class of 1961, was a graduate of Williams College 1965, and attended grad school at Cornell University in the Department Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture before entering the Air Force reserves, and before taking over the family business, Arrowhead Gardens, in Wayland, after his father's early death at 52.
Rob leaves his beloved daughter Heidi and her husband, Mike Cronin of Wenham, and his stepson Hunter Jay and wife Bethany of Essex. He was predeceased by his wonderful daughter, Lisa. His grandchildren were his pride and joy; Patrick and Tyler Cronin, Harper, Katie and Maddie Jay will miss their Bampa. He leaves Surrey, his wife whom he called his "rock, lover and best friend" who along with Heidi cared for him these last months. He is also survived by his brothers Christian Elwell and wife Gaella of Conway, MA, and William Elwell and wife Donna of Ashfield, MA and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
As many will say, the earth (the soil) was in his blood. He never met a plant he didn't call "rare" and always found a way to make it flourish. He was happiest in the horticultural industry with numerous companies, closing out his full-time working career as the New England sales representative for Greenleaf Nursery, of Oklahoma and North Carolina.
Never idle, some of his favorite projects over the years were: cofounder and president of the Amateur Tomato Growers Assoc; principal of My House Leeks, grower of sempervivums and alpine plants; owner of Unreal Succulents, an artificial floral design firm; founder and president of the Boca Grande Renters' Club after 24 years of renting on the island, and his last adventure, Shop Croquet, still going strong today supported by his Chix with Sticks.
Always a good athlete, he played ice hockey in high school and college, was always up to beating his brothers or anyone else on the tennis court, and when his health would no longer let him run up to the net, he took up croquet. He loved the sport and recruited friends and family alike, many of them kicking and screaming but everyone now very thankful on his insistence. He could be found almost daily on the courts at Gasparilla Mallet Club on Boca Grande or Sarasota Croquet Club in Venice, FL, having a game of 6 wicket or golf croquet.
We wish to thank Aberdeen Home Care and Care Dimensions for their incredible care of him up to his new, beginning.
In keeping with his wishes, he wanted to be present for his memorial, so this last month has been filled with wonderful visits from loving generations of family and good friends as well as many, many cocktail zoom gatherings. But, also in keeping with his wishes there may be an oyster party in the spring possibly at Eastern Point Yacht Club, where he was a longtime member!!!!Arrangements by Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA.
