Top URI Business Professor Dr. Robert A Comerford Sr., Dies at 80
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Dr. Robert A Comerford Sr., “Bob”, 80, of Charlestown RI (formally of South Kingstown), passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on August 11,2022 after a short illness. Bob was the beloved husband of his wife of 55 years, Christine (Waskewicz) Comerford. Born in Gardner, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Dorothy Hazel (Blood) Comerford and the late Robert Elmer Comerford.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After serving his country, Bob went on to earn his Doctorate in Philosophy along with both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration from The University of Massachusetts/Amherst. While there, He and Christine managed the Friendly’s Restaurant on Campus and started their family.
Bob then accepted a position at the University of Rhode Island where he taught in the College of Business from 1975 until his retirement in 2018. While there, he taught classes in entrepreneurship, small business management and strategic management.
Bob also held various administrative positions such as, and not limited to, Associate Dean of the College of Business, interim Vice President for Business and Finance, director of the University’s Small Business Institute, Vice President for Small Business Operations of the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He also served as a Rhode Island delegate to the 1980 White House Conference on Small Business. Bob served as a Director of Business Plan Clinics at URI and his lectures took him all over the world. His research early on focused on the economics and financial structure of marine-related businesses, and helped develop the aquaculture business financial data bank, a comprehensive set of industry average financial date on various types of U.S. aquaculture firms, and New Business Sales Growth Profiles, a collection of start-up business first five-year revenue histories. His research was published in various journals and publications. He also co-authored the textbook, Strategic Management: Text, Tools and Cases for Business Policy (with the late Dennis Callaghan), Kent/Wadsworth Publishing Co., Boston, 1985.
Bob was a well-respected and known member of the South County community. He loved the ocean, sailing and fishing often. He could also be found working in his woodworking shop making hand-turned bowls, pens etc. He was an avid lover of the outdoors and took up shooting clays, becoming a regular member of the local gun clubs. These were all things he enjoyed throughout his life and did so with not only his children but his beloved grandchildren, all of which he spoke of constantly.
Bob was a loving father to his sons, Robert Comerford Jr. and Joshua J. Comerford (wife, Sueanne) and his daughter Kristin M. Kyhos. He was also the amazingly proud and doting grandfather to his grandsons Andrew A. Kyhos, Robert J. Comerford and his granddaughters Carlie M.Kyhos, Grace C. Kyhos, Kaelyn M. Comerford and Kodie S. Comerford. He was also the caring older brother to Ralph Comerford (wife Melanie) and the uncle to numerous nieces and nephews.
It is no doubt Bob's presence in the community will be greatly missed not only by his friends, neighbors, and students but by his family as well.
The Comerford/ Kyhos Family would like to extend their love and appreciation to their friends and family who supported them these last few weeks, to the caring nurses at South County Hospital, and the unwavering care and support from Hope Health and Hospice Center.
Burial will be on Friday, August 26, 2022, at 10 AM in Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, RI.
