Dr. Robert M. Hautala died unexpectedly on December 14th, 2018 at the age of 70, while visiting family for the holidays in Rhode Island. Bob was born January 19th, 1948 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his parents Matt Hautala and Winnie (Pistenmaa) and by his brother Rick Hautala. Bob is survived by his daughter Aili Boyd (husband Matthew) of Barrington, RI, his son Arno Hautala (wife Erica) of Tiverton, RI, as well as five grandchildren, Wyatt, Harriet, and Lily Boyd, Britta and Elin Hautala, his sister Louise Brown (husband Robert) of Naples, FL, many nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, colleagues, and students.

Bob grew up in Rockport, Massachusetts, graduated from Springfield College, earned a Master of Arts in Education from The University of Denver, and earned a doctorate degree in Kinesiology from The University of Northern Colorado. He taught physical education and worked as a guidance counselor in Connecticut and New Hampshire public schools. For a time while caring for his father in Rockport, Bob worked at the Post Offices in Ipswich and Rockport. He enjoyed the walking to deliver mail and talking to customers at the post office. He had a long and successful career as a professor at many institutions, including Buena Vista College in Iowa, University of Nebraska at Omaha where he was tenured, University of Vermont, University of Rhode Island, University of New Hampshire, and he completed his career this past summer retiring from Western Oregon University where he worked for 14 years and held tenure.

Bob spent countless hours walking in the athletic center and around the WOU campus and was passionate about the athletics programs there, and loved his time holding office hours and mentoring senior thesis projects, where he was fondly known as "Dr. H.". He also had a great love for fly-fishing and would make regular trips to rivers and streams around Oregon. Bob also had a great appreciation for his Finnish heritage and made yearly trips to Finland where he studied the language, took educational classes, conducted research, visited close friends, and of course fly-fished.

Bob's trips to his New England home were always a point of excitement for friends and family and he loved to see his grandchildren, who knew him as Vaari. He will be very missed by family, friends, colleagues, and students.

At Bob's wishes there will not be a funeral. A memorial at Western Oregon University is planned for this winter and a Rockport memorial will be planned for summer. Donations may be made in his memory to Western Oregon University's Bob "Dr. H." Hautala Student Success Fund: Online: Visit wou.edu/give, then select "support WOU" then "other" as the gift designation. Please include Bob's name in the note line. Or by Mail: WOU Foundation, 345 Monmouth Ave N., Monmouth OR 97361, please mention Bob's name in the memo.