Retired Covenant pastor Robert Dvorak, former superintendent of the East Coast Conference, died November 16, 2025, at Covenant Living of Keene, New Hampshire. He was 86.
Robert Carl Dvorak was born December 1, 1938, to parents William and Mildred Dvorak in Chicago, Illinois. He was baptized into Christian faith at Oak Park Avenue Baptist Church in Berwyn, Illinois, where he also first became a church member.
After graduating high school, Robert attended Taylor University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1960, then Westminster Theological Seminary for a master of divinity degree in 1964. He earned an MA in library science from the University of Wisconsin in 1969. Decades later, Robert also pursued a PhD in church history from Boston University. He was honored with two honorary doctorate degrees.
Robert married Dorothy Ann Bosgraf on June 16, 1962. They had three children.
In 1972, he accepted the position of director of the library at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Wenham, Massachusetts, where he also joined the faculty. That same year, he became the choir director and organist at West Peabody Covenant Church, later expanding his ministry there as associate pastor in 1976. He was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church at the Annual Meeting in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 1979. He continued at Gordon-Conwell in various roles, including as dean of instruction and as acting dean of the seminary until 1988.
In 1988, he became pastor of Winnetka Covenant Church in Wilmette, Illinois, where he served for the next ten years. Bob and Dorothy returned to New England, where he became superintendent of the East Coast Conference in i998. After retiring and serving in several interim Covenant pulpits, Bob accepted a call to serve Trailer Estates and Tri-Par Covenant Churches in Florida in 2008. He retired for the second time at age 80, yet he remained deeply connected to the Bradenton, Florida, community. In 2005, he and Dottie moved to Covenant Living of Keene, New Hampshire.
Bob served on the Covenant’s Board of Publications, and as chair for two years, as well as on many regional and local boards, including as a board member and president of the Church and Synagogue Library Association, and in many deliberative capacities for Boston Theological Institute, the Massachusetts Council of Churches, and the Topsfield Town Library.
Bob had many passions—searching for rare books, enjoying family vacations, music, and ministry. He was active in the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention, an organization his grandfather, Vaclav Hlad, who was a Czech immigrant, helped establish to support churches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Later in life, Bob’s love of music inspired him to organize the Brown Hymnal Society. Though not a formal organization, it became a cherished gathering for all who loved singing and hearing the stories behind older hymns. He began these hymn sings while serving as pastor at Winnetka Covenant Church and often joked that he was “the music director, the chair of the board, and the only board member.”
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mildred Dvorak; his sister, Geraldene Grandholm; his brother William Dvorak; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Robert is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy (Dottie); and three children, Rob Dvorak (Renee) of Gig Harbor, Washington; Dawn Hoden (Jonathan) of Swanzey; and Tracey Drotts (Stephen) of Keene;
grandsons, Joshua (Brittany) and Caleb Dvorak, Carl Hoden, and Jake and Justin Drotts; granddaughters, Diana Wilson (Jeremiah), Deborah Marquez (Domynik), Julia Hoden, and Cecelia Drotts; great-grandson, Peter Wilson; and his brother Daniel Dvorak (Kathleen) of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A service of remembrance will be held on May 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the Strand Chapel at Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center in Swanzey, New Hampshire.
Peace be to his memory.
