December 31, 2023
December 31, 2023
Still miss you Bob! And so appreciate the wonderful life we shared in Ashland Vineyards. Love, Maggie and Al
This website was created in memory of Bob Conklin, 91, born on August 13, 1922 and passed away on December 30, 2013.
There was a wonderful Quaker memorial service on February 22, 2014 at 3 pm at Richmond Friends Meeting in Richmond, Virginia at 4500 Kensington Avenue. We are immensely grateful to Richmond Friends Meeting, and to all of our friends who came to share in celebrating our Dad's life.
Tributes
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August 15, 2021
August 15, 2021
This is a story I am paraphrasing from an article in the Bridgeport Post. When Bob was about 3 years old his father, EJ, was almost killed in a plane crash in Stratford, CT. I think this is why he had to create his aluminum teeth. My mother recounted the tale of the teeth but not the cause. He was learning how to fly and in the twilight misjudged the field. This was in the time of barnstorming and my mother said she went up in planes with the Conklins in the 1920's. At the moment of impact with the ground an auto turned onto South Main Street and EJ realized that if he did not zoom up he and Lieutenant Jenning, the training instructor, would hit the car broadside. So he gave the plane the gun and missed the auto; saving the lives of three passengers. But hit the electric wires The plane crashed again Fortunately both men were saved by spectators but their conditions were "dangerous" in St Vincent's hospital.
December 30, 2019
December 30, 2019
Still miss you, Bob! Thought you'd like to know that 18 Ashland Vineyarders travelled the 8 hrs to SC to be present at our son Coleman's wedding. It was very powerful during the wedding when Adam Hammer asked them to all stand up. I share this remembering that one of the last conversations we had you asked me if we still liked each other in the community. You were astonished and delighted that I said we did. So although some of us have moved away, the answer to your question is still a resounding YES! What you and Phyllis started in Ashland has life long effects for all of us who were lucky enough to be part of your "experiment."
June 14, 2015
June 14, 2015
Bob Conklin was a major influence on my young life, and I will be forever grateful to him. There are too many stories and too many fond memories from the early 1970s to even begin a tribute. Once, many years later, when I met Howard Zinn, my first thought was how much he looked like Bob Conklin. Anyway, thank you Bob. God bless you, Phyllis and Celeste and the rest of the Conklin family.
February 22, 2014
February 22, 2014
Bob and Phyllis were warm hosts to my wife Cheryl and I during the summer of '67 while I worked full-time against the Vietnam War, under the mentorship of Phyllis and Marii Hasegawa. Their friendship meant a lot to us in that "summer of love." We were married the following year. (We are still fighting the never-ending misguided wars.) Also remember Bob on the Barksdale stage. One fabulous guy!
February 11, 2014
February 11, 2014
I miss hearing the sounds of Bob playing the piano from across the way. Bob gave me so many gifts, especially the opportunity to live in community, but the most important gift of all, his friendship and unconditional love.....and his LAUGH! If there were a contest for best laugh, he would win....or maybe he and Phyllis both would win. Miss them both so much.
February 9, 2014
February 9, 2014
OH how I remember the days and times I spent at the Conklin house. Surrounded by music, laughter, "forward" thinking, humor and so much love. So much. I wanted to be adopted by Phyllis and Bob. I loved you all; especially Celeste who gave to me some of the best parts of my childhood. May blessing be bestowed upon all of you. Bob lived such a good life. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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Recent Tributes
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2023
Still miss you Bob! And so appreciate the wonderful life we shared in Ashland Vineyards. Love, Maggie and Al
August 15, 2021
August 15, 2021
This is a story I am paraphrasing from an article in the Bridgeport Post. When Bob was about 3 years old his father, EJ, was almost killed in a plane crash in Stratford, CT. I think this is why he had to create his aluminum teeth. My mother recounted the tale of the teeth but not the cause. He was learning how to fly and in the twilight misjudged the field. This was in the time of barnstorming and my mother said she went up in planes with the Conklins in the 1920's. At the moment of impact with the ground an auto turned onto South Main Street and EJ realized that if he did not zoom up he and Lieutenant Jenning, the training instructor, would hit the car broadside. So he gave the plane the gun and missed the auto; saving the lives of three passengers. But hit the electric wires The plane crashed again Fortunately both men were saved by spectators but their conditions were "dangerous" in St Vincent's hospital.
December 30, 2019
December 30, 2019
Still miss you, Bob! Thought you'd like to know that 18 Ashland Vineyarders travelled the 8 hrs to SC to be present at our son Coleman's wedding. It was very powerful during the wedding when Adam Hammer asked them to all stand up. I share this remembering that one of the last conversations we had you asked me if we still liked each other in the community. You were astonished and delighted that I said we did. So although some of us have moved away, the answer to your question is still a resounding YES! What you and Phyllis started in Ashland has life long effects for all of us who were lucky enough to be part of your "experiment."
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Bob Plays Mozart
Bob & Phyl - 1974
Ed, Bob, & Lou - Dallas 1969
1956 Christmas Morning -Bob, Phyllis, Jeff and Celeste
Bob and Pete - June 2012
Bob and Celeste - June 2012
Bob - June 2012
Pete-and-Bob
Spence-&-Bob
Recent stories
The Conklins
December 12, 2015
My mother grew up with the Conklins. Bob called her his other sister. She would tell me about the family being called to the cellar by EJ and then, when all accounted for, they would hold hands and get an electric jolt. I always figured that is why they are and were so smart. EJ had the first washing machine and a conveyor belt in the basement. He also created his own teeth were they aluminum? when he lost his was it in a plane crash? The boys were barnstormers and my mother went up in planes with them.
The last time I saw Bob was in Richmond. He invited me there for Thanksgiving in 1981 just after my mother had died. He wrote the nicest note. I still have it and cherish his memory of her.
I have looked for him since moving to PA in 2009. Today I was looking for EJ Conklin and stumbled on this site. I was talking to the auhor Nancy Harnett about him as I wondered if he had been from NYC initially. I wondered if he was part of the Orphan Train that brought children to families. Although my recollection is his family gave him to a family. Isn't it odd that I was looking for EJ and found Bob.
My mother was Helen Coakley Farrell, best friend of Betty Doyle Wadsworth and Celeste Conklin Reed.