We Will Remember Him As The Godfather Of Recycling – Robert Emory Harvey
-John Arwood-
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Robert Harvey.
Robert passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2014.
He leaves his wife of 72 years, Jane (Williams).Harvey.
He was born in Westborough, the son of Luta L. (Grimes) and Emory L. Harvey and lived there all his life. Robert graduated from Westborough High School in 1936 and received an Associate Degree from Cornell University in 1940. He then joined his father, Emory L. Harvey, and his brother, James A. Harvey, in the family business. He was President of E. L. Harvey & Sons until his retirement in 2004.
Robert was the oldest living member of the Westborough Congregational Church and a member of the Siloam Lodge of Masons, Order of Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Worcester and Valley of Boston, and the Allepo Shrine. He was a past member of the National D.C.A., N.A.S.W.A. Washington, DC.; Board of Directors Westborough Historical Society; Board of Directors Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce; Round Table: Thursday Club; Rotary Club of Westborough; and Westborough Militia. Robert was Animal Inspector for the Town of Westborough from 1947 to 1990. Mr. Harvey is survived by a son, William, and his wife, Sharon (Miller) of Bridgewater, CT; a son, Benjamin, and his wife, Ellen (Criasia) of Westborough and a daughter, Dorothy, and her husband, Dr. Austin B. Thompson, III, of Omaha, NE. His eldest son, Robert, Jr., died in 1984.
Mr. Harvey is also survived by a brother, James A. Harvey and his wife, Janet, of Westborough. His sisters, Martha L. Smith (Herbert), Elizabeth D. Lasselle (Ralph) and Alma H. O’Neil (J. Gregory) predeceased him
He is also survived by many grandchildren, nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. To read Mr. Harvey’s bio on our web-site click here:http://www.elharvey.com/about-us/leadership-supervisors/robert-harvey
For those wishing to express their condolences to the Harvey Family, arrangements are as follows:
– Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on:
http://www.elharvey.com/about-us/leadership-supervisors/robert-harvey/
http://www.elharvey.com/news/2014/09/memoriam-robert-harvey/
A devoted recycler, Harvey found ways to remove numerous commodities from the waste stream that came into the Harvey facility and worked to market much of the product in the early years. He worked to establish waste-handling procedures that enabled the company to reduce the amount of unrecovered recyclable material. The innovations he introduced are now mandated by state law.
http://www.solidwastemag.com/news/e-l-harvey-sons-co-founder-leaves-legacy-behind/1003236087/
“Bob was an original founder in our company and leader in our industry but never wanted the accolades,” said Ellen Harvey, Bob’s daughter-in-law and vice president of E.L. Harvey & Sons. “He was just a hard-working man who loved what he did. He was a wonderful man who will be greatly missed.”
http://waste360.com/personnel-moves/el-harvey-founder-robert-harvey-95-dies?NL=WST-03&Issue=WST-03_20140904_WST-03_861&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2&YM_RID=CPEQW000001140086&YM_MID=838