Donate in Memory of Robert H. Studley
Obituary: Robert H. Studley
Published in The Boston Globe on August 11, 2012
STUDLEY, Robert H. 79 a longtime resident of Naples, FL and York, ME died Tuesday, August 7, 2012 in York Hospital following his battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
He was born April 29, 1933 in Medford, MA, son of the late Everett M. and Elizabeth (Noonan) Studley. He was a graduate of the Belmont Hill School ’51, Middlebury College ’55 (BS), as well as earning his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School of Banking & Finance ’59. He served in the United States Army from 1955-57 as 1st Lieutenant Signal Corps and then in the Reserves for six years following.
In 1960 Robert entered Chase Manhattan Bank’s Savings Bank Training Program in New York City where he worked for two years before leaving to join his father’s investment firm, Studley Shupert & Company, Inc., in Boston as Partner and Advisor. After several years at Studley Shupert & Company, Inc., Robert returned to the banking industry in 1968 as Assistant Treasurer of the then-named Lynn Institution for Savings. After earning numerous positions with added responsibility within the bank and helping to lead Lynn Institution for Savings through several name changes, as well as numerous mergers and acquisitions, he ended his distinguished career in banking as Chairman of Eastern Bank, a role he held for 17 years prior to his retirement in 1992 at the age of 58. He claimed that one of his greatest professional accomplishments was spearheading legislation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that eventually allowed banks to raise funds by forming mutual bank holding companies thus opening up opportunities for smaller regional banks to benefit from some of the opportunities garnered by those of our nation’s largest banking institutions.
Robert served on several boards throughout his career such as the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn; Salem Hospital; Director of the Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company; Executive Committee of the Savings Bank Association of Massachusetts; Treasurer of the Massachusetts Bank Officers Club; Chairman of the Lynn Area United Way of Massachusetts Bay; Trustee of the Brookwood School; and served as past President of both the Lynn Area and North Shore Area Chambers of Commerce.
He leaves his wife of 48 years, Sandra (Hulbert) Studley; a daughter, Susan L. Sanidas and her husband, Brett, of Falmouth, MA; a son, Robert H. Studley Jr. and his wife, Tammie of Boxford, MA; a sister-in-law, Sallyann Studley of Bourne, MA; a brother-in-law, Edward Hulbert of Guilford, CT; a niece, Mary Jane Sukeforth of Easton, MA; four grandchildren, Austin Robert and Emily Elizabeth Sanidas of Falmouth, MA, and Elizabeth Grace and Noah Robert Studley of Boxford, MA. A brother, Joseph E. Studley, predeceased him.
Calling hours for Robert will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, August 13 in the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Rd., York, Maine. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 14 in the First Parish Church, 180 York St., York, Maine. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574 or at www.CCALS.org. Please also visit www.lucaseatonfuneralhome.com
