In Memoriam: Bob Sloane
It is with great sadness that we announce that Bob Sloane passed away on May 12, 2021, after being hospitalized for several weeks. Bob was a true pioneer in walking advocacy and a pillar of our organization. He was a mentor, a friend and a creative genius when it came to getting the message out that walking is a fundamental part of the transportation conversation. Whether it was translating walking distances into time (for which he won a White House Champions of Change Award) or devising his latest plan to get separated walking paths, Bob knew how to persuade, engage and charm. We knew that if he was sitting in the conference room with trace paper and xerox copies of aerial photographs taped together, he was hatching yet another scheme to make it safer and more enjoyable for people to walk.
He is already missed for his incredible wisdom and wit. Please read his obituary, and make sure to read some of our favorite memories of Bob below – and share your own in this Google Doc. You can also use it to pass along a message to any of our staff or board members.
- Bob’s comical “One Minute, One Slide: Allston I-90” video update from last year’s Annual Meeting (Star Wars theme)
- The #UnchokeTheThroat video that Bob masterminded to ensure dual paths along the Charles River would be a key part of the Allston I-90 project
- Bob wrote two of our “Keep Walking” email newsletters last year, one of his newfound turkey co-workers while working remotely in Brookline, and another praising the expanded space for people walking that was underway in response to COVID-19
There will be lots of ways to celebrate Bob and his legacy in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. For now, we hold him and his family in our hearts.