Robin William Bass, age 63, of Bass Farm, Scotland CT, passed away suddenly, at home, on January 2, 2021. His passing was unexpected. He came unto a great peace as he passed, held by his wife, surrounded by his children, as he beheld the completion of his life's work: carrying on the Bass Brothers Farm enterprise, established in 1710, and raising 4 beautiful children with his loving wife Kate. Rob Bass was unique and surprising in so many ways. As a child, he loved to explore the woods and ways of the land. Like a child of Aesop, he understood the unspoken thoughts of animals. He caught and befriended many. One morning when he was three, his mother, Evelyn (Stygar) Bass, could not find him. After a panicked search, she discovered him marching in his diapers out in the cornfield, declaring that he was going up to milk the cows. At the age of 11, he bursted with pride to formally work the farm. In his youth, Rob milked cows and tended the farm with his father, brother, his many uncles and cousins, and his most beloved grandmother, Helen Woodman Bass. When not farming, he had an epic curiosity, sitting with volumes of encyclopedias, reading every single page in each one from A to Z. He exhausted three sets of Encyclopedias and retained nearly photographic memory of each subject. . In his adult years, he researched every subject that piqued his curiosity, cultivated an eclectic range of music, wrote dream-like transcendent landscape poems and left them scattered around the house on the back of random scraps of paper for his family to treasure. After graduating from E.O Smith, he served in active duty in the US Navy in 1997 deployed on the USS Midway. After honorable discharge in 1981, he returned home to farm with his father, where he remained for the rest of his life. Rob loved his farm, and had no desire to be anywhere else. He married Katherine (Dommers) Bass in 1988, a year that brought a tragic loss of his own infant child, and then his two sisters in a plane crash. Following that fateful year, the farm changed partnership roles, and in 1991, Rob and his father, Stephen Reynolds Bass, continued farming together as sole partners. In the face of hardships, they worked as a team, father and son, as Rob and Kate raised their children. In 2008, Rob and Stephen made the bold step to sell the herd. After selling the herd, Rob supplemented his farm income as a driver for East Conn, taking great care with his passengers. Rob was there for his father in 2011, after Stephen incurred a severe brain injury. Day and night, patiently and with a litany of old swamp yankee humor his father knew so well, Rob supported his father with dignity at home, till Stephen passed at home in 2015. Robin's legacy lives on in his children, each who carries the vivid life force of this loving, family man. His legacy lives in the heart of his devoted wife Kate, who cherishes 31 years by his side. His children: Madeline Bass and Jake Rudder of Scotland, Alexander Bass of Scotland, Ingrid Bass and Jay Lenkiewicz of South Windham, Thomas and Josie Bass of Bremerton, WA; his brother, Stephen and wife Carla Bass of Nashville, TN; a sister, Jennifer Bass of Scotland; extended family members and friends; all will cherish their memories. From the silent ruins of his farm, which he dreamed of revitalizing, to the fields he cleared and cultivated, Rob will remain in the hearts of all who had a glimpse of the gentle soul who never failed to surprise with wit and range of knowledge. He will be felt in the wind, the rain, the sunshine, the planting and harvest of crops. He will always be a presence, in the fields, on this particular new england family farm, on this certain earth, drifting in a universe, that he so privately inhabited with humor, grace, and awe. Walk through calling hours, utilizing face coverings and social distancing will be held on Saturday, January 9th from 2 – 4 pm at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester. Donations in his memory may be made to Horizons in South Windham, CT www.horizonsct.org For online condolences, please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com
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