Jeffrey Roberts

Jeffrey Roberts, 86, of Bluffton, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, at home as he had wished. He was surrounded by love, the classical music he adored, and in the company of Ted Haslam, his partner and best friend for the last 10 years.

Jeffrey was born on March 7, 1939, in Springfield, Missouri, the only son of Maurice and Nora Roberts. He is survived by his sister, Ann, of Cape Fair, Missouri, and her daughter Lori and her family. Jeffrey was predeceased by his sister, Jane, and his dear wife of 44 years, Bette Jean (nee Blaney) whom he described as the love of his life. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Jeffrey was raised in Springfield, Missouri, where he enjoyed being a typical kid, riding his bike with friends, cruising in cars which were his passion, and attending St. Agnes Roman Catholic schools and churches, developing a faith he cherished his whole life. He later attended St. Benedicts College, graduated with a B.A. in English from Southwest Missouri State University in 1962, graduated with a Masters in English from the University of Missouri in 1963, and graduated with his PhD in English from the University of Massachusetts in 1971.

His first academic work was as an instructor at New Mexico Military Institute (1963-1967), then as an instructor at the University of Massachusetts (1969-1970), followed by being a professor in the Department of Languages and Literature (1970-1998) while he was also Chair of the department 1981-1991, then vice president for academic affairs 1998-2000, and finally Academic Dean 2000-2001. He was also Director of the Shakespeare Sumner School in 1995 and 1997 in Stratford on Avon in England. He published a book on John Arden in 1994, and loved directing and acting in community theater productions in New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Maine.

In 2001 he and his wife retired and moved to Portland, Maine, where they loved their home, their animals, and their community. For 4 decades he spent his summers on Moose Pond in Maine where he was active on the board of the Sebago Long Lake Music Festival. He also cohosted a TV program for one season, and narrated Aaron Copeland’s Wilderness Suite with the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

In his spare time, he loved being a handy man, competently doing electrical wiring, plumbing, but also playing the piano and enjoying all kinds of classical music. He always made an effort to be a part of the church choir wherever he was attending Mass, including St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church in Bluffton, and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bridgeton, Maine. He traveled extensively enjoying China, Argentina, New Zealand, Alaska, South Africa, and Europe from one end to the other.

After the death of his wife, he moved to Sun City in Bluffton, where he and Ted resided for a decade until his peaceful, but too soon passing. He was a grand and gentle man, with an infectious and joyful laugh, and an appreciation of everything life had to offer. He will be remembered with great affection by many. He didn’t want to die, but he passed confident that he was in the arms of his Lord and reunited with many who had passed before him.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 2:00 pm at St. Andrews Church on Pinckney Colony Road, in Bluffton, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Maine Audubon Society would be gratefully appreciated.