It is with deep sorrow that I give you this news.
I have tears in my eyes this morning as I have learned about the passing of our good friend Bob Colborn.
A service celebrating Bob’s life will be held in Washington D.C. Those ACR members who live in the area are encouraged to attend his memorial February 7, 2014.
Time: 11 a.m.,
Day/Date: Friday, February 7, 2014
Place: All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20008
See obit at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/capitalgazette/obituary.aspx?n=robert-colborn&pid=169365211
Bob will be remembered for his big heart and big smile. How appropriate they used an ACR photo for his obit. RIP my friend.
Please feel free to leave a message to his family below.
Robert “Bob” J. Colborn, Jr., 77, of Cheverly, died January 23. Born March 12, 1936 in Salisbury to the late Robert J. and Marion (Tyler) Colborn, Bob was a graduate of Washington College B. S., University. of Rhode Island M.S., and University of Virginia J.D. As a member of the MSBA, he joined the Maryland Office of the Secretary of State and founded the Maryland Division of State Documents, where he served as Administrator from 1974-2001. He also founded the Administrative Code & Registers of NASS where he served as Executive Secretary and became the namesake for the annual ACR/NASS Innovation Award. As historian for the National Park Service from ’63 to ’64, he published the two reports key to the 1976 bicentennial restoration of Congress Hall in Philadelphia, and the Old Senate Chamber and Old Supreme Court Chamber of U.S. Capitol Building, Washington D.C. Bob was a gardener, a history/culture enthusiast, and enjoyed traveling. Surviving are his former wife, Marilyn B. Colborn; daughter, Amanda G. Colborn; stepson, Geoffrey (Katherine) W. Schoming; brother, George (Stacia) Colborn; sister Meg (Richard) Bond; two grandchildren, Molly and Julian; and friends, Curtis Burris, James Hughs, and Jason Amster. A service celebrating the life of Robert J. Colborn Jr. will be held 11 a.m., Friday, February 7, at All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20008. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church (
www.allsoulsdc.org). A further celebration is to be announced for this spring.
Published in The Capital on Jan. 28, 2014
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/CapitalGazette/obituary.aspx?pid=169365211#sthash.km6lZlxG.dpuf
Without Bob Colborn few of us would be aware that in fact we are not alone in our peculiar administrative rule cubby holes.
This is a very sad day indeed. Bob truly was the heart and soul of ACR and we owe him a debt of gratitude. If it weren’t for Bob I wouldn’t have the wonderful friends I have in ACR. For that I will always be thankful. Godspeed old friend.
Bob was a mentor and inspiration to us all. I first met Bob in 1977 when I needed to learn how to produce a full-text Register for Washington State. Bob and his staff gave me two days of their time, answered dozens of questions, and gave me the confidence that we could indeed succeed at the task the Legislature had given us. Bob and I talked about what a beneficial two days it had been, and mused that talking shop with other state publishers would benefit all of us. I believe I was not the first to pose this idea, because the very next year, 1978, Bob and his staff organized the first ACR meeting in an airport hotel in St. Louis. There were perhaps 20 participants, and we all agreed it had been time and money well spent. Bob never looked back from there, and ACR grew steadily with the support of several Secretaries of State and commercial publishers. NASS eventually made us a formal part of their organization and membership and effectiveness continued to increase. In time, the great majority of states were represented, and new blood took over from the Old-timers, but we never forgot our Founding Father, Bob Colborn. Thanks, Bob — your work here is done.