Robert Scott Monahan was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on November 24, 1907.
The Lone Pine flag flew at half staff yesterday to honor Robert Scott Monahan ’29, College forester from 1947 to 1971, who passed away on Sunday. He was 86 years old.
As the College forester, he managed the College owned land grants in northern New Hampshire and coordinated the sale of wood products that came from the property.
Monahan attended the Yale School of Forestry after leaving the College and then worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 15 years. He also worked for the Forest Service in Laconia, N.H., Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, Calif. He returned to Dartmouth as the College Forester in 1947.
“He was the all-time Dartmouth man,” said Dianne Monahan, his daughter-in-law of Concord, Mass. “He had very strong feelings for the place as many of the old grads do.”
Monahan’s legacy at the College is long and rich. His two brothers, De Long and Ted, were graduates of Dartmouth, in the Class of 1924 and 1933, respectively. His son Robert hailed from the Class of 1959. And one of Monahan’s grandsons, Daniel, graduated from the College in 1987.
One of Monahan’s achievements was helping to establish Mount Washington Observatory. He wrote a book titled “Mount Washington Reoccupied” about his experiences as a member of the observatory crew.
Monahan was also active in the New Hampshire state legislature. From 1957 to 1963, he served in both houses. He was a majority leader in the Senate and chair of the Committee on Resources, Recreation and Development in the House.
Monahan was an early supporter of water pollution control and forestry legislation.
“His two biggest passions were politics and the outdoors,” Dianne Monahan said.
A memorial service for Monahan will be held at The Church of Christ in Hanover on March 12. He is survived by his three children: Robert, of Powell River, British Columbia; Daniel, of Concord, Mass. and Linda Dresch of Cumberland, Maine; and his six grandchildren.