I was a boy living on the street when Mr. Woodward started renovating the old blacksmith shop. In 7th grade I began working for Mr. Woodward as a yard boy, mowing lawns, caring for the gardens, shoveling snow, doing chores around the house and barn, earning 25 cents an hour.  This association continued through high school days, two years in the Army Air Corp., college days at Oberlin College and then eventually Tufts Medical School in Boston.  Never having married and having no close family, Mr. Woodward took an interest in me and helped me  financially in college and in medical school. 

On August 26, 1950, the summer after graduating from Oberlin College and before entering Tufts Medical School, I married Barbara Shippee, a graduate of Simmons College School of Library Science in Boston.  My best  man, at  the home wedding,  was Robert Strong Woodward, the artist commemorated by this website.   Barbara’s maid of honor was Helen Williams, also a librarian.  After this picture below was taken, we boarded a train in Shelburne Falls for Boston.  We headed to our fourth floor apartment on Peterboro Street in the Fenway section to begin our new lives together.  This was a happy but sad day for all of us, especially for my father in law.

Barbara worked in the library at  Simmons College, a short walk from our apartment.  I became a full time medical student at  Tufts Medical School, a subway ride towards Chinatown in downtown Boston. 

                                               Wedding gladiolas from our wedding

When Mr. Woodward died in 1957, he left the bulk of his estate to me. (To view the complete will of Robert Strong Woodward, please click here.)  After medical school and five post graduate years of surgical residency, I decided to come back to my hometown, Buckland.  I built an office in a part of Mr. Woodward's studio storage area, and began what was to be a 40 year medical practice in the small town.  I always maintained the studio area just as RSW left it when he died.  We raised two fine children, Larch and Laurel, now grown, in the home of the artist.  My wife and I still live year-round in his home and studio and try to maintain it as it was when he lived here.In 1998 I retired from the practice of medicine and in my retirement years began work on the development of this website in honor and appreciation of Robert Strong Woodward.  It has been a labor of love.  I have collected as many images of his paintings and chalk drawings as possible and am continuing to add to this collection. The creative work of RSW was voluminous during his life time. You will realize this as you peruse this website. We hope you enjoy this website and will return to visit us frequently.Thank you for your visit.

MLP

A more complete autobiography of my story growing up with RSW is available here.