A Gift from Bob Dodson

                

              Newborn penguins                taken by Bob Dodson in 2008

 

 

          Those who read this blog might recall that Bob Dodson, a dear friend of Dad's was also a notable member of the Finn Ronne Antarctic Expedition.  (I have included the information on Bob and his obituary on the link below.)

                    Bob was a close friend of Dad's dating back to the expedition itself.  Following Dad's passing, Bob Dodson was also a good friend to my own family as well, visiting us here in Charlottesville several times, and leaving some lovely presents.

                     I have included this particular gift from Bob for the readers of this blog.

About Bob Dodson:

https://explorerldkelsey.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-passing-of-bob-dodson-dear-friend.html

 

 

 

 

 

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