Stillman Moulton Hobbs
April 11, 1903 – June 7, 1988
Educator, Local Historian
HAMPTON — Stillman Moulton_Hobbs, 85, of 9 Thomsen Road died June 7 in Exeter Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born April 11, 1903. in the old Hobbs homestead on Winnacunnet Road, the son of the late Henry B. and Bettina (Moulton) Hobbs. He was a descendant of two of the town’s earliest settlers.
Mr. Hobbs prepared for college at Hampton Academy [Class of 1920] and Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.
He was a 1928 graduate of Bates College and did graduate work at the University of Rochester, University of New Hampshire and Columbia University. He had been looking forward to attending his 60th class reunion at Bates this weekend.
In 1978, Mr. Hobbs completed 50 years of teaching. For 30 of those years, he taught at high schools in Rochester, N.Y., and Great Neck, N.Y., serving as head of the social studies department in both schools.
During the late 1940s, he taught at Harvard University summer school. In addition to his high school classes, he taught an evening course at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N. Y., during the 1950s.
Taking an early retirement, Mr. Hobbs returned to Hampton, living first in his father’s house on the original Eastow Hobbs grant and later on Thomsen Road.
Missing working with young minds, he returned to teaching at Winnacunnet High School where he introduced Advanced Placement in American History into the curriculum.
Mr. Hobbs was the author of a number of professional articles and co-author with Lawrence Roth of two textbooks, “Living in the People’s World” and “Living in Today’s World.”
In 1978 with his wife. he wrote “The Way It Was in North Hampton,” the first written history of the town.
While in New York, he was a member of the examining committee of the New York Board of Regents and at various times until 1968 worked for the college board as a reader of advanced placement examination in American history.
While in Hampton. Mr. Hobbs was a trustee of the Lane Memorial Library for 14 years and a trustee of the Hampton Cemetery Association and the town Conservation Commission.
He was the widower of Eileen (Collins) Hobbs, who died in 1953.
Family members include his wife, Helen Davis Hobbs of Hampton; a son, Douglas Stillman Hobbs, professor at the University of California in Los Angeles; a brother, H. Ellsworth Hobbs of Clinton. Conn.; a sister, B. Luella Hobbs of Hampton; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will he held June 26 at 2 p.m. in Christ Church, Exeter, with the Rev. G. Richard Siener, rector and the Rev. Robert W. Golledge, vicar of Old North Church, Boston, officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to either the Lane Memorial Library or Bates College, care of the Hampton Cooperative Bank, attention Norman Merrill, 40 High St., Hampton. N. H. 03842.
The Ronald A. Remick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.