Catching up with Bob Rathbun

Since graduating from in 1978, Bob Rathbun has been a busy man. After four years on the high school soccer team, Bob went on to have an outstanding career at the King’s College in New York, earning a Bachelors degree in biology and a load of honors on the soccer field including Christian College Second Team All-American, NAIA All-District and team MVP in his senior season.

After graduation, Bob was able to pursue two passions in his life, Christian ministry and soccer. His list of accomplishments and experiences in both of these areas is extensive and include playing for Sports Life, a spin off of the nationally recognized Christian ministry, Athletes in Action.  It was through this experience that Bob had the privilege of traveling throughout the United States, Africa and Europe, playing exhibition matches against professional teams. Other endeavors took him on two summer tours with Missionary Athletes International, a two year stint as head coach at Northwestern College in Minnesota and finally back to where it all began, as an assistant coach at Branford High School.

Bob has worked as a Physician’s Assistant at St. Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven and later attended Word of Life Bible Institute in New York where he gained another degree in youth ministry, working as a Program Director at the Word of Life Inn in Schroon Lake, New York.  It was while at Word of Life that Bob met his future wife, Karen, to whom he has been married for 17 years. 

In 1996, Bob earned a Masters degree from Southern Connecticut State Univeristy in exercise physiology and later worked as a carpenter for Petra Construction until late 2007 when the call came to serve as Facilities Director and Guest Services at Camp Spofford in southern New Hampshire.

Bob has experienced and accomplished much during the years since Branford High but he is quick to point out two things.  “I coach youth soccer now and occasionally get out on the field and try to keep up with the young guys.  Throughout these experiences, the common thread is that I have sought to use my gifts and talents to serve Jesus Christ.”

Bob currently lives in Chesterfield, New Hampshire with his wife Karen, (who also works at the camp) and his two sons, Jackson 15 and Scottie 12.