Bob was born many miles away from Harthaven, growing up in the little town of Medicine Lake, Minnesota.  He won a scholarship to Yale where he met Sam Low, beginning a lifelong friendship and a connection with the Vineyard.  In 1998, Sam insisted that he finally buy his own home in Harthaven after nearly forty years of being a guest.

Bob ultimately graduated from Yale Art & Architecture School with a masters of architecture and urban planning.  But he soon had a fall from grace, choosing not to practice his chosen profession but instead becoming a real estate developer under the name of Keen Development Corporation.  The company is perhaps best known for his preservation work, adapting historic buildings for affordable housing and other uses.  Keen’s portfolio of new construction is also very much informed by historic precedents.  Given his architectural background, Bob takes great pride in the design and construction details of his undertakings, which have been honored  by a number of professional awards.

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