Robert Kilmer 1939 – 2023
Robert Kilmer was born October 3, 1939, in Tucson, Arizona, to his parents, mother Roberta Daniels Kilmer and father Christopher Kilmer. His native instinct and his talent led him to a life in literature and writing that extended family tradition. His grandfather, Joyce Kilmer, after refusing an officer’s commission, was killed in heroic action in World War 1. Before his death, Joyce was a loved and admired poet. His most famous poem was “Trees.”
The family moved from Tucson to Oxford, North Carolina, then to Greenwich Village, and finally to Stillwater, New Jersey, where they lived with a friend of his grandmother, the poet Aline Kilmer, until they found a house by what had been a slaughterhouse. His father, a minor poet, named their street “RoadApple Avenue.”
Robert’s mother Bert did a wonderful job encouraging his imagination and introducing him to a lifetime of loving literature. After a weak performance in high school he went on to enlist in the U. S. Army. He served in Germany for three and a half years.
After Robert’s tour in Germany, he enrolled in Louisiana State University. There he learned to love Cajun music and Cajun food. He graduated with a BA in English.
At graduation he earned a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and was accepted at The University of Chicago. There, he earned his Master’s degree and PhD, awarded “with honors.” His dissertation was on John Barth.
Robert’s first teaching job was at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee. After four years there he was refused tenure because of his lack of publications and too good a job of teaching. His chairman said he was refused tenure because of his lack of publication. When he asked what was said of his teaching, the chairman said there was one student complaint that “When we ask Dr. Kilmer questions, sometimes he tells us to find out for ourselves. Now a few professors said that was good, but others ….”
From Vanderbilt, unemployed, he moved to Arlington, Virginia to live with his sweetheart, Marion MacLean. Eventually they married and bought a house, “Little Eden,” in Fairfax County. He worked the 1-1/4 acre lot to become a productive garden, including 250 asparagus plants. He and Marion lived there until their divorce in 1991.
He joined the faculty of Northern Virginia Community College to help open the Woodbridge campus. He retired after 35 years, as Professor Emeritus in the English Department. In addition to his regular teaching assignments, he had helped start the Honors Program on that campus, working with bright, dedicated students. Robert was a member of the Northern Virginia Writing Project, following Marion into that distinguished fellowship.
In 1991 he answered an ISO (In Search Of) ad in the Washingtonian magazine, meeting Claudia Costello. They married in May of 1993, and he moved to Manassas, joining Claudia, her daughter Sara Costello, and the three cats. His very first project was to start a new asparagus bed in the back yard.
Robert was an avid home-brewer, making over 350 five-gallon batches of ales and stouts. Once the new commercial brewers started making excellent beers he gave up brewing and explored their offerings, finding them as good as his. He was also an excellent cook, serving wonderful dishes to family and friends.
He was able to renew his garden efforts in Manassas, and went on to found The Garden Basket, a community-supported agriculture business. For six years he and Claudia provided vegetables to ten customers for six months a year.
Robert also took up foraging for wild mushrooms, joining the Mycological Association of Washington. He served as its secretary for several years.
Robert is survived by his wife Claudia, her daughter Sara Costello; his sisters Ann Buskirk (Dennis), Margaret Kilmer (Sharon Haug), and Elizabeth “Sam” Strain (JJ); niece Laine Strain (David); sister-in-law Jenny Mizelle (Don); nephew Alex Carr (Anna), and a host of Kilmer cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Christopher “Kip” and Bert Kilmer, and niece Diana Strain.
A private memorial service will be conducted at a later date. Condolences may be sent to www.oldetownefh.com
16 Responses
I couldn’t have gotten a better big brother. Thank you for all the safety and confidence and love you gave me.
Robert Kilmer, once loved; still loved; always loved.
Robert was a great friend. Good humor (quirky at times), very intelligent, and a lover of good food and wine! Mushrooming was another predilect passion, and all those “qualities” we shared. We traveled for mushrooming far and wide! Distance and age limited our contact during recent years. I will miss him very much. It leaves a hole that cannot be filled.
Rest in Peace, my friend.
Robert was a wonderful neighbor who sharing his knowledge of gardening, love of heritage tomatoes, and flower seeds. We enjoyed his food, wine and companionship. Robert, you will be missed everyday.
Robert was a great person and a great professor who cared about his students and wanted the best from them. All of us in C&H enjoyed our times together which were missed when we all moved on. For many years we shared a get together luncheon which sadly we quit doing and now after many are gone, I realize we should have continued. I treasure each and every memory from all and I hope Robert knew how much I admired him. I bet Dr Croft and the rest who passed before Robert planned a big party to welcome him. If I had been one of them, I would have fixed a cherry cobbler……Claudia, I’m sure you understand why. Rest in peace.
To a long-time and much-respected colleague, farewell. Robert was an outstanding teacher and faculty leader, which counts more than a truckload of publications. A professional life well-lived.
I met Robert at my restaurant, Akasaka, and I was blessed to have met him and Claudia. He brought smiles and laughter whenever I had the pleasure of speaking to him and his wife and his visits will be sincerely missed.
Robert, more than anyone else in my life, introduced me to what became my passions for a long, long time: gardening, first and foremost, but also tennis, cooking, teaching, navigating academic administration, foreign films, science fiction, and hilarious mischief. He was a kind, good man who will be missed by many.
Every time I sip a glass of wine or taste a new delicious food, I will think of you. Cheers.
My most heartfelt condolences upon the passing of my old friend and mutual mushroomer Robert.
I will miss you, and send my best wishes to your dear spouse, Claudia.
In mourning,
Kurt and family
RIP Bob.
I met Robert on a mushroom foray in Italy some time ago, and was struck by his enthusiasm and passion for the hunt, as well as our great conversations and his joy of good food. I was fortunate to meet his lovely wife Claudia and had the great good fortune to enjoy gourmet meals with his fresh-from-the-garden ingredients at their house. He will be missed!
Robert was a Renaissance guy! He loved pottery, literature, mushrooms, mythology and so much more! Hope your spirit is alive and well in the great beyond. Cheers!
Robert was a Renaissance person-from gardening, to mythology, to pottery, to literature and so on! May you be united in the great beyond with some of the spirits from your past! Cheers. Rosemary
Robert was a dear friend and mentor. He taught me so many things but mostly a love of learning. He was always open to talk about anything. Claudia and Robert taught me what love could be post-divorce. I think of Robert every time I eat a tomato and it is tomato season right now. There are no “nomaters” here. I will miss you always.
Robert will be sorely missed by so many, including myself. He took me ‘shrooming, and with Claudia–to movies, wonderful restaurants, and gardening. We enjoyed playing Milles Borne, working together to create wonderful meals, and chuckling over Barney Miller with our nightcaps. Farewell Robert, R.I.P. I hope you’re fishing and ‘shrooming wherever you are! Love you, Ginger
A life force he was, and a creative one. Words, cooking, gardening, bees, beer, wine, poetry, games. You will be missed, cher Robert.
Robert’s ability to interact with young people and instill in them a desire to learn more about the English language and its literature was a true gift. The students at NOVA Woodbridge were blessed by having him as their instructor.