Robert Louis Patrick Champney, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and uncle, passed away May 17th, 2025, at the age of 86. He is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara; his children, Kara, Kevin, and Kevin’s partner, Laura; and his cherished grandchildren, Christian, Luke, and Mairead.
Robert is also lovingly remembered by his sister, Jeanne; his sister-in-law, Pat, and her husband, Terry; his niece, Kelley, and her husband, Greg; and nephews Chris, David, Nathaniel, and Brian. Bob cherished his many friends and remained in regular contact with his childhood friend, Rob Roy. He is predeceased by his parents, Arlene Langley and Louis Champney, and his beloved Brittany Spaniel, Seamus.
His humor, generosity, and dedication to helping others left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. A proud veteran, Robert served his country with honor in the United States Army as a cryptanalyst stationed at Torii Station, Okinawa. His life’s work was dedicated to teaching and learning, both in the classroom and on the playing field. He spent decades as a teacher, coach, and school administrator, mentoring countless students and athletes. He coached football, hockey, baseball, and track with enthusiasm and purpose. Robert was also deeply involved in his beloved town of Hopkinton, where he lived for 50 years, serving on the school committee and chairing the town’s 275th anniversary celebration. He was a member of the Boston Athletic Association and the Hopkinton Marathon Committee, which he also chaired, and proudly fired the starting pistol for the fourth wave of the Boston Marathon in 2019. A loyal Boston College fan, he held season tickets to BC football games for over 50 years and rarely missed a home game. In recognition of his support, he was honored at halftime during one of the games. Bob also loved to travel and meet new people. In retirement, he and Barbara traveled extensively around the world. Recently, he learned how to use an iPad so he could text his grandchildren and family. Particularly fond of emojis, his messages always brought a smile. He will be missed.
Visitation will be held at Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe St. www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com on Wednesday, May 21st, from 5:30-8:00 p.m., with a brief memorial service at 6:00, where family and friends will gather to honor his life and legacy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to World Central Kitchen, https://wck.org/
