Lyme, NH – Bob Franklin, 84, formerly of New York City and New Canaan, Connecticut, passed away on April, 15, 2026 in Lyme, New Hampshire, where he lived with his wife, Patricia “Patty” Franklin, for over a decade.
He was born January 28, 1942, to Bernice Franklin (née Stambaugh) and John Edward Franklin, Sr., in New York City. Bob attended Saint Ignatius School and was a devoted altar server in the German-American neighborhood of Yorkville in Manhattan. His Catholic faith, formed in those early years, remained important to him throughout his life. Bob’s family summered at their camp in Chateaugay, New York.
Bob graduated from Trinity School in New York City in 1959. He went on to attend Harvard College, graduating in 1963, and Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude in 1966. During the Vietnam War, Bob volunteered for the infantry and served honorably as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison. After the war, he received his Master of Laws from the New York University School of Law in 1973. As a tax attorney, Bob enjoyed the challenges of structuring complex transactions in the U.S. and international tax law arena. He joined the firm Coudert Brothers as an associate in 1975. He initially was the only full-time tax lawyer at the firm, which at that time had 10 offices and approximately 200 attorneys across the globe. He subsequently became a partner at Coudert and leader of their tax department, building it into a 15-lawyer group renowned for excellence in the field of international taxation. He later continued his career as a partner at Dorsey & Whitney in Manhattan until his retirement.
Through his work, he met Patty, flying to Texas to court her before their marriage in 1986, beginning a long and devoted life together. Bob enjoyed traveling and the arts and was an avid reader and sports fan. He loved his family and found deep joy in sharing experiences with them, whether by exploring new places together or by introducing them to the people, places, and stories of his own past. Bob’s years were marked by quiet duty, love of family, and a deep inner life.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and a former spouse. He is lovingly remembered and mourned by his wife, Patty Franklin, of Lyme; his son, David Franklin, daughter-in-law Vanessa Franklin, and their daughters, Amanda and Clara Franklin, of New York City; his daughter, Kate Franklin, and son-in-law Jamie George-Holland, of Lakewood, Colorado; his daughter, Allison Franklin, son-in-law William Jordan, and their children, Sarah and Thomas Jordan, of Alexandria, Virginia; his brothers, John Franklin, Jr., and Bill Franklin; sisters-in-law, Gilda Franklin and Jeanne Franklin; his cousin, Mary Ellen Putnam; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved Portuguese Water Dog, Darcy.
The family of Bob Franklin wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the nurses and staff of Dartmouth Health Home Care.
A private funeral liturgy will be held at Saint Denis Roman Catholic Church in Hanover, New Hampshire.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BrightFocus Foundation for Alzheimer’s research (brightfocus.org).
Arrangements are in the care of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home.
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