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September 28, 1935 - January 27, 2025 (age 89)

Robert B. Kenworthy, long-time sports information director and assistant public relations director at Gettysburg College, died Monday, January 27, at 9 a.m. at Gettysburg Hospital. He was 89.

Kenworthy was the son of the late Robert J. and Elizabeth P. (Piccola) Kenworthy. Born Saturday, September 28, 1935, in Norwalk, CT, he was the husband of Margaret M. (Redding) Kenworthy. They were married 63 years and had four children.

Kenworthy contracted polio in 1948 and went on to graduate from Delone Catholic High School in 1954 and attended Gettysburg College and Mt. St. Mary's University. He began writing sports for the Gettysburg Times while in high school and also served as a stringer for the Hanover Evening Sun and Harrisburg Patriot News. When Radio Station WGET first went on the air in 1950, he and Gettysburg High School student, Jim Coleman, conducted a Saturday morning sports show which was the longest sustaining program at the time. The two were also play-by-play announcers for high school and college football games.

In 1959, Kenworthy was named Gettysburg College's first full-time sports information director. He served in that position until his retirement in 1999. He also continued his ties with the Times, writing the “Out of the Past” column for 51 years. During the Eisenhower years at Gettysburg, he served as a stringer for Newsweek Magazine, covering young David Eisenhower's activities.

During his time at Gettysburg College, he became deeply involved with the fledgling new national organization, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), serving on many committees and panels at the annual conventions. He received CoSIDA's 25-year Award in 1985, in 1989 the organization's Warren Berg Award as the college division's top SID, was inducted into CoSIDA's Hall of Fame in 1990, and received CoSIDA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. He served on CoSIDA's board of directors for three years. Kenworthy has been elected to the Adams County and South Central chapters of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fames, Gettysburg College Hall of Athletic Honor, and Delone Hall of Honor.

Kenworthy was active in the Middle Atlantic States, Centennial, and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conferences (ECAC), serving on the SID boards of all three.

Because of his involvement in community organizations, both CoSIDA and ECAC established national awards in his honor, presented annually to a sports information director for civic involvement and accomplishments. Kenworthy has served on the boards of the Gettysburg/Adams County Chamber of Commerce, College-Community Relations; a long-time member of the Gettysburg Little League, serving three years as president; Gettysburg Recreation Board; St. Francis Xavier Parish Council and Delone Catholic High School Board of Directors; chaired Delone's 75th Anniversary campaign and was president of the Delone PTO. He was one of the original lectors at St. Francis and became an instructor for future lectors.

Surviving, besides his wife, are his children Stephanie Justen (Keith), Fairfax, VA; R. Bradley (Kim), Hanover; Christopher (Jeanne), Blue Bell; and Andrew, Harrisburg, as well as eight grandchildren, Abigail, Caleigh, Peter, Bridget Justen; Zachery (Maranda), Hannah, Alison Kenworthy, and Lexie (Jeremy) Poe. Also surviving is a brother Wayne V. Kenworthy (Margaret), Hanover, and a number of nieces and nephews along with three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother and sister-in-law Philip H. and Mary M. Kenworthy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:30 AM, Saturday, February 1, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 25 W. High Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 with the Rev. Fr. Michael Pray as celebrant. Interment will follow in the St. Francis Cemetery. A viewing will be held from 6-8 PM, Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Kenworthy Funeral Home, 66 East Hanover St., Gettysburg, (Bonneauville), PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Orange and Blue Club, Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA 17325; Delone Catholic High School, 140 S. Oxford Ave., McSherrystown, PA 17344; or St. Francis Xavier School, 465 Table Rock Rd., Gettysburg, PA 17325.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.kenworthyfh.com