Robert Townsend Hoyt Jr

ROBERT TOWNSEND HOYT, JR

February 11, 1930 – June 5, 2025

With sadness we report the passing of Robert (Bob) Townsend Hoyt, Jr, age 95, of Dunwoody Village in Newtown Square, PA and Nantucket, MA.

Predeceased by his wife, Terry, and brother, Garry, Bob is survived by his six children: Katie McNabb (Bill), Amy Backstrom (Jim), Rory (Pat), John, Christian (Tiffany), Garth (Heather); sixteen grandchildren;  five great grandsons; and brother Tim (Vangie).

A loyal alum of Lehigh University, Bob studied mechanical engineering, receiving a BA in 1951 and a BS in 1952. Following graduation, he commissioned as an Army lieutenant and served in the Korean War from 1953 to 1954.

After his military service, Bob worked for General Electric in Massachusetts and New York before settling in the Philadelphia area in 1964. After a brief stint with Univac, Bob took on the ambitious challenge of starting a payroll service in King of Prussia (PayUSA) in 1969. He completed 35 years as president before turning over the business to his son Christian in 2004.

From 1987 through the early 2000’s, Bob enjoyed a sideline as a model for Ralph Lauren and other fashion houses. This modeling career allowed him to travel extensively in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

One of his enduring joys came from sailing with his brother Garry: a passion that began as he and Garry were teenagers summering in Beachwood, NJ, and lasted well into his ninth decade. In 2006, they won Nantucket’s Opera House Cup.

An avid non-fiction reader, Bob loved history and served as the family archivist, amassing photos and film that chronicled all family events through the years. Ever the engineer, he proved an invaluable advisor to anyone building or renovating a home.

Despite these many accomplishments, his greatest pride was his family. He was keenly interested in everything going on in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. As a stately patriarch for so many decades, he will be sorely missed.

We will celebrate Bob’s life on September 12th with a memorial service at 11:00 AM at Wayne United Methodist Church, where he was a faithful member for over sixty years. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church for visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

Since Bob was a Rotarian for over fifty years, the family suggests donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Ardmore Rotary or a charity of one’s choice.