The Passing of Bob Dodson, a Dear Friend

               

 

                    Robert "Bob" H.T. Dodson

 

        One of the sorrowful things about having lost my son Matthew in late November of last year, is that I haven't really been very functional until about this week.  I learned today that one of  Lawrence's  (Dad's) most longstanding and dearest friends had passed in December, 2022.

                  Robert H.T. Dodson, known to most of the world as Bob Dodson, and Dad first became acquainted on the Finn Ronne Antarctic Expedition in 1947-1948. They maintained a friendship and had occasional lunches together throughout their lifetimes, regardless of where each of them were living, from then on. Dad and I also thought very highly of Gertrude "Robbie" Dodson, Bob's wife, who was gracious, educated and capable.

                  After Dad passed, Bob Dodson visited us here in Virginia a couple of times. It was a joy to talk to him and hear of the Antarctic days and of his discussions with Dad since then. Our kids were especially fond of Bob, although he never did have the chance to meet Daniel.

                   When I was cleaning Matthew's room this month, I found an amazing calendar of the Antarctic that Bob had autographed for Matthew and had written a paragraph. Matthew had kept it with his treasured possessions.  

                    Bob also read  my book Lawrence D Kelsey: The Life of the Explorer before it was published. I was particularly lucky to get his input and approval on the chapters which concerned the Finn Ronne Antarctic Expedition.

                    The world likely knows Robert H.T. Dodson as an educated man, a geologist, a world traveler, and as many other things, as well as a husband and father.  We were lucky to know him as a beloved friend of Dad's and also as a friend who cared enough to look out for his dear friend's daughter and her family after his passing.  I hope Dad, Bob, "Robbie" and Daniel and Matthew spend some time together now.  We certainly miss all of them.

                    These are interesting links on Robert H.T. "Bob" Dodson, a truly fine man. 

 We send condolences, love and best wishes to Bob and Robbie's sons who remain here on Earth, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren.

More entries concerning Bob Dodson:

https://ubique.americangeo.org/society-news/remembering-geographer-bob-dodson/

 

 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/vnews/name/robert-dodson-obituary?id=38399486

 

https://kb.osu.edu/bitstream/handle/1811/6066/Dodson_Robert_transcript.pdf?sequence=1

 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodson_Peninsula

 

The Loss of a Grandson of Lawrence DeWolfe Kelsey

               

 

          It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Lawrence's grandson Matthew.

Matthew passed in late November in his sleep just 38-39 hours following an influenza vaccine that was not supposed to have been of mRNA origin. Matthew had not been given the COVID vaccine series, and had no known ongoing medical issues.   I have waited to post this news here because we have still been waiting for a final cause of death and for a full report from the Chief Medical Examiner.  So far, we know that Matthew passed peacefully in his sleep, and that he was quite well the night before. His toxicology was completely negative, and that his passing is felt to have been due to a sudden heart rhythm disturbance of unknown origin.

                 This is the second grandson of Lawrence's to have passed following Lawrence's own passing.  Matthew's brother Daniel, aged 12 1/2, died just thirty days after Dad in 2008. Dad would be very proud of the man Matthew became, and what he achieved since Dad's passing.

                 I am comforted only in that Dad, Daniel and Matthew are together, and would have much to discuss and to explore together.

 

https://www.forevermissed.com/matthew-d-krehbiel/about