In honor of all his achievements and dedication to the people of the Monadnock region and beyond, the Peterborough Select Board has proclaimed June 27 as Robert “Bob” McQuillen Day.
On Tuesday, Select Board members voted to honor McQuillen, who was known for his philanthropic efforts in education in the Dublin and Peterborough communities, who died at the age of 90 in 2014. This June 27, McQuillen would have been 100 years old.
Select Board member Bill Taylor said he’ll never forget McQuillen’s upbeat and infectious personality.
“He was the kindest and sweetest man, but he was a force to be reckoned with,” said Taylor.
To his friends, family and his community, McQuillen was known as a man who wore many hats. After serving in World War II and the Korean War, he taugnt in the ConVal School District from 1959 to 1984, and even after retiring, some people recall “Mr. Mac” going back to school as a substitute.
McQuillen was also well-known for his passion for folk music, art and performance. According to the proclamation, McQuillen composed more than 1,600 folk songs, marches and waltzes in his lifetime, and 234 of them were inspired by each of New Hampshire’s towns and cities.
The entire collection of songs was developed into 15 volumes called “Bob’s Notebooks,” which are currently archived around the region and at University of New Hampshire’s library.
In addition to composing, McQuillen was known for his passion in contra dancing, an old English and Scottish style of couples line dancing.
When he was not dancing, community members could catch him playing old tunes on the piano, accordion and the guitar.
Based on his lifetime dedication to the arts and education, McQuillen was the honoree of the 1997 New Hampshire Governor’s Arts Award in Living Folk Heritage.
In 1999, he represented the state at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, and in 2008, McQuillen was awarded the Lifetime Contribution Award from the Country Dance and Song Society.
After June 27 was chosen to honor McQuillen Day, lifelong friend Sarah Bauhan said McQuillen’s legacy will forever live on in the hearts of his friends, family, and his community.
“I’m really touched the town is honoring him. He contributed so much to so many for so long,” said Bauhan.