Robert E. Christin

Dr. Robert Ernest Christin, of Waltham, Massachusetts, died Monday, March 25, 2013, at the Maristhill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 91.

Dr. Christin was born June 25, 1921, in Detroit, Michigan, a son of the late Ernest and Edith (Hickey) Christin. Dr. Christin obtained his BA, MA, and PhD degrees in English from Ohio State University. He is a graduate of Holy Rosary High School in Columbus, Ohio.

During World War II, Dr. Christin served four years in the United States Navy. He was assigned to naval intelligence. His unit received a Presidential Unit Citation for helping to break the Japanese code. Later, he served on a destroyer escort and participated in the Allied invasion of Okinawa.

From 1954 to 1965, Dr. Christin was an associate professor in the English Department at the University of Notre Dame, where he received the Thomas Madden award for distinguished teaching.

Dr. Christin was a pioneer in the development of the nation's Upward Bound Program, which he helped direct from 1965 to 1969.

Dr. Christin served as the president of St. Norbert College in De Pere Wisconsin; director of Saint Mary's Academy in Nauvoo, Illinois; president of Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York; vice-president of Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, where he also served as professor of English. He retired from Pace University in 1988.

In 1989, Dr. Christin moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he taught courses in poetry and memoir writing at the Adult Learning Center. While in Virginia Beach, Dr. Christin had acting roles in the television series "The New Detectives."

Dr. Christin is predeceased by his son, Paul E. Christin, by his beloved wife, Dorothy Dunn Christin, who died in 2000; his daughter-in-law, Mindy Syron, and his siblings Francis (Buddy), John (Jack), Edward, Milton, and Margaret Reiser.

Dr. Christin is survived by his children, Robert F. Christin and his wife, Barbara, of Washington Grove, Maryland; George J. Christin and his wife, Audrey Schwartz of Medford, Massachusetts; Michael P. Christin and his wife, Terry, of Toano, Virginia; Matthew B. Christin of Portola Valley, California; Joseph E. Christin of Waltham, Massachusetts; Rita C. Bertino and her husband, Joseph, of Ossining, New York; Edward J. Christin of Miami Beach, Florida; Mary T. Christin and her husband, John Becker, of Waltham, Massachusetts; and John P. Christin and his wife, Linda, of New Milford, Connecticut; his brother, Paul Christin of Naperville, Illinois; his grandchildren, Brian, Michael, Maureen, Jessica, Erica, Michael, Caitlin, Emily, and Paul Christin; Francis, Joseph, and Matthew Bertino; his great-grandchildren, Mary Margaret and Bridget Christin; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass for Dr. Christin was held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newton, Massachusetts, on March 28, 2013. His remains will be laid to rest near those of his beloved wife Dorothy and son Paul at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lakeville, Indiana on May 11, 2013.

Dr. Christin's family offers words of thanks to the Maristhill community for the exceptional care they gave to him and the kindnesses extended to his family.

Memorials in his name may be made to Maristhill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 66 Newton Street, Waltham, MA 02453.