Robert "Bob" Lynn Clotworthy, 87, was born in New Jersey on a warm day in May 1931 and passed away peacefully at home on the beautiful spring day of June 1st, surrounded by his loving family. He spent his last week with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The birth and death of this great man, however, is not nearly as relevant as all the days and nights that he lived to the fullest between those two dates. He lived his life not for the things that he could acquire, but for the love of family and friends and stories he had to tell. And his life was an incredible story.
Bob was an amazing yet humble athlete. After a remarkable career as a diver, Bob reached the pinnacle of his sport winning the Gold Medal in the 3-meter springboard event at the Olympic games in Melbourne, Australia in 1956. His accomplishments as a diver are too long to list and would take away from who he really was as a man. He touched many lives along his journey as a coach and teacher. As the head swimming and diving coach at Princeton, he produced National and Olympic champions, but his swimmers and divers, at all levels, have even more significant stories of how he changed their lives.
The love of his life, Cynthia Gill Clotworthy, passed away six years ago, also surrounded by her children. Her finals words: "It's wonderful". They first met in 1955 on the 10-meter diving tower at the Pan American Games in Mexico City, where Cynthia was a medalist in the 100 M Backstroke. Their honeymoon was an around-the-world tour performing swimming and diving exhibitions in more than a dozen countries.
After years of coaching at Princeton, their great adventure continued with their children. In 1970, Bob packed up the family and joined the Peace Corps. The family lived in Caracas, Venezuela where he trained their Olympic diving coaches. After other successful collegiate coaching roles, Bob ended his career as a teacher at the Albuquerque Academy and retired to his beloved Taos, New Mexico.
The week before his death, his children asked him what was on his bucket list. With a huge smile, he formed a big zero with his hands. What a story it was.
He leaves behind, his brother William (Jo); his four loving children, Susan Syring, Bruce (Leslie), Jodi Best (Steve), and Erin Joosse (Chris); his twelve grandchildren; and fifteen great grandchildren.
A celebration of Bob's life will begin at 11:00 am with a memorial service on Friday, June 15, 2018 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) and will continue with a reception following the services at The Chateau, 1910 East Dimple Dell Road until 2:00 pm.
Please RSVP jodisbest@gmail.com if planning to attend.
